Learning and Achievement Article Archive

What to expect academically from all grades, how boys and girls learn, information about learning styles, and more.

• Coming Soon to Your School: Common Core State StandardsThe Common Core State Standards are likely to be implemented at your school, possibly this year. Forty-five states have adopted the national educational standards. Here’s a Common Core primer on what to expect your kids will be learning.
• 10 Educational Travel Destinations for FallThese 10 travel and vacation destinations are perfect for fall school breaks, with off-season rates and fewer crowds. In addition, they’re great fun for the whole family!
• When Motivation Levels Differ: Motivating Your Kids Without Comparing ThemIn many families, one child is self-motivated and directed while the other is not. How should parents help the unmotivated child without drawing comparisons to the independent, self-starting sibling?
• The Flipped Classroom: What It Means for You and Your ChildThe “flipped classroom”—where children are taught by watching educational videos at home and then do related “homework” in class—is increasingly popular in schools. Educators say the concept has led to improved test scores and gives students more individual attention. Read our tips to see if it’s right for your child.
• Considering Homeschooling? Do Your Homework FirstDoes the idea of keeping your children home and teaching them yourself ever cross your mind? Homeschooling works for many, but even the most ardent supporters say it’s not for everyone and urge those contemplating it to consider all that’s involved before jumping in.
• Kindergarten Redshirting: Is It Right for Your Child?There are pros and cons to holding back a young child for academic and social reasons, and strong opinions abound on both sides of the controversial practice.
• Outdoor Winter Activities To Enjoy With Your KidsIt may be snowy and chilly in most parts of the country during wintertime, but that’s no reason for you and your child to remain indoors.
• 3 Keys to School SuccessGet your children charged up and ready to learn with these tips.
• Tips for Raising a ReaderSome kids live to read; others won't go near books without being prodded. Our experts offer ideas to encourage children of all ages, and interest levels, to read.
• A Teacher’s Advice for Struggling StudentsCarol Wooten, winner of a presidential teaching excellence award, shares her insights with parents whose kids are having trouble reaching their full potential in school.
• 5 Ways To Help Your Child Succeed in SchoolGet your children ready to perform like heroes in school with these teacher-recommended tips.
• Boys and Girls Learn DifferentlyWhen it comes to academics, they don’t tend to approach things the same way.
• High School Math: How Parents Can Help Build SkillsSome simple strategies and encouragement will benefit students who are struggling in math.
• Help Your High School Student Enjoy ReadingAs English class gets harder, reading can still be fun. Parents can help teens by encouraging them to choose and enjoy all types of reading.
• Mastering MathYes, you can help your child learn math, even if it's not his favorite subject (or yours).
• For Struggling Students, School Success Starts at HomeIf your child struggles in school, these ideas that reinforce learning at home can make a real difference.
• Poetry Boosts Reading SkillsThe rhyming and imagery of poems can help kids learn language fundamentals.
• ADHD and School: Tips for ParentsDoes your child have trouble focusing in class? Here’s how to find out whether your child has ADHD, and how to work with the school if he does.
• Middle School Study Skills: Getting OrganizedHelp your middle schooler learn the skills she needs to stay on top of homework.
• Help Your Gifted Child Succeed in SchoolHow to tell whether your child is gifted, plus ways to make school more meaningful for him.
• Address Learning Challenges EarlyPotential learning problems don’t have to hold back your child. If you’re worried, speak up early to enlist help from teachers and support staff.
• Swine Flu and SchoolHealth officials have changed their initial recommendations of how parents and schools should respond to the H1N1 virus. Here's what you should know.
• High School: What To Expect in 12th GradeSeniors often struggle to stay motivated as they near the end of high school and look toward college.
• High School: What To Expect in 11th GradeJunior year is about preparing for college and learning to drive.
• High School: What To Expect in 10th GradeSophomores have more choices at school and may need help to stay focused.
• High School: What To Expect in 9th GradeFreshman year is about adjusting to high school and choosing an academic track.
• 8th Grade Academics: What To ExpectClasses get tougher, but students still have time to strengthen academic and organization skills before entering high school.
• Grade by Grade, What Kids Are LearningStandards vary from state to state, but here’s a general look at what kids will be taught at each grade level.
• Schools Recovering From Swine FluThe spread of the H1N1 flu led hundreds of U.S. schools to close their doors. Parents and students might need to make up that lost time classroom time.
• 7th Grade Academics: What To ExpectAcademic concepts continue to get more advanced, and students will really need to use their study skills this year.
• 6th Grade Academics: What To ExpectStudents will be using more sophisticated thinking skills, interpreting and synthesizing the information they’re learning.
• 5th Grade Academics: What To ExpectLanguage arts and especially math get harder this year, and students will be expected to manage their time more independently.
• Find the Learning Style That Works Best for Your ChildDoes your child know how he learns best?
• Attendance Is Directly Linked to AchievementParents who let their kids miss a lot of school are setting them up for school failure.
• Aptitude and Achievement Tests DefinedTesting is a fact of life for schools today. As a parent, you may wonder about the different types of tests your child takes.
• A Tutor Could Help Your Child Catch Up in SchoolIf your child is falling behind at school, consider getting a tutor.
• 10 Easy Tips for Kids' School SuccessSometimes, it’s the little things that can lead to problems in school.
• If You Think Your Child Needs a TutorIf your child is having trouble in a subject, you may have thought about finding a tutor. But first try talking with your child’s teacher.
• Children Learn Differently; How Does Your Child Learn?When your child tries to put a new toy together, does he read the instructions first? Then he may be a visual learner who learns best by seeing.
• Encourage Girls To Study Math, ScienceToday, math courses are often the key to higher paying jobs. Yet many girls don't take the math they'll need for these careers.
• It May Not Be Smart To Praise Your Child for Being "Smart"It’s common for parents to praise children for being “smart.”
• Dealing With Student Frustration“I hate school!” “Math stinks!” “I’m dumb!” Statements like these are often signs of a child who’s frustrated with his schoolwork.
• Find Out Your Child's Learning Style and Boost AchievementBy learning how your child learns best, you can go a long way toward helping her achieve success.
• Children Who Volunteer Get Better GradesChildren learn important lessons when families volunteer together.
• 3rd Grade Academics: What To ExpectStudents in 3rd grade are meeting higher academic expectations and learning more complex concepts in school.
• 4th Grade Academics: What To ExpectThis year, teachers move past the basics and students are expected to apply what they’re learning.
• 2nd Grade Academics: What To ExpectThis year, kids transition from learning to read to reading to learn.
• 1st Grade Academics: What To ExpectThis year, kids will learn to read and will begin to have routine homework assignments.
• Kindergarten Academics: What To ExpectThis year, kids are getting ready to read and learn new skills through play.
• 10 Questions About Your Child and SchoolThe more you know about how your child deals with challenges and what's expected of him, the better you'll be able to help him achieve. Start by asking these key questions.
• How Girls LearnGirls like to collaborate and often create strong relationships.
• How Boys LearnMany boys need opportunities to move around and like competitive situations.
• Can Food Help You Learn?Eating certain “brain foods” might make your kids smarter...but research shows they’ll be better off with a balanced diet, a good breakfast, and regular physical activity.
• Learning Styles QuizGet insight into how your child learns best.
• What Is Your Child’s Learning Style?Understanding how your child learns can reduce frustration and improve achievement.
• Better Grades—10 Ways You Can Help!Make sure your child is ready to learn and achieve at school with these 10 smart tips on what you can do at home to prepare her for success.
• Talking With Teachers About Student ProgressDon't wait for the report card to find out how your child is doing in school; a veteran principal offers tips for parents to keep in touch all year long.
• School and the Internet: What You Should KnowHow students are using the Internet at school, and precautions you should take at home.

Building Learning Skills

• Handwritten Thank-You Notes Offer Many Ways To LearnParents can add humor—and math and history learning—to this task, which is one that most children initially resist.
• Instill a Love of Learning in Your ChildTo encourage curiosity and a passion for learning in your child, discuss things you’re interested in, show her real-world examples, and don’t forget to take her lead.
• Teachers Want Student ParticipationThe older kids get, the more their teachers want to hear from them.
• Knowing the Scientific Method Helps With ProjectsThe scientific method will probably be used by your child throughout her school career.
• Simple Ideas To Help Overcome Math AnxietySome middle school children get so anxious about math, they dread going to class. Or they worry so excessively about a test, they make mistakes.
• Help Make Practice More Perfect: Four Simple StepsNew research shows that practicing can help us perform much, much better—because it actually improves the way we think.
• Good Questions To Help With Science ProjectsScience projects can turn into a parent’s biggest nightmare.
• Make Sure Your Middle Schooler Is Academically FitSchools across the nation are raising their academic standards.
• Tips To Take Good Notes and Use Them WellIf your child’s grades have slipped and she does not seem to understand what happened in class, she may need to take better notes.
• Three Steps To Help Build Teens' Memory SkillsWhether it’s memorizing vocabulary words in a foreign language or recalling important dates in history class, your teen needs to develop the ability to memorize and recall facts.

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Learning at Home

• For Students, Parents, and Families, There Are 26 Top Apps for ThatWhether it’s keeping track of school assignments, remembering your kids’ allowances, or avoiding doubles on the grocery list, new software applications abound.
• Handwritten Thank-You Notes Offer Many Ways To LearnParents can add humor—and math and history learning—to this task, which is one that most children initially resist.
• Instill a Love of Learning in Your ChildTo encourage curiosity and a passion for learning in your child, discuss things you’re interested in, show her real-world examples, and don’t forget to take her lead.
• Divorce: How To Help Your Child at Home and at SchoolDivorce can wreak havoc on a child’s world and affect her life at school. How much information should a parent give a child’s teacher and other adults in the child’s life, and how should the child tell her friends? Our experts provide tips and guidance for parents to help their children navigate this difficult life experience.
• 7 Ideas for Celebrating Leap Day2012 is a Leap Year! Celebrate that extra day in February—the 29th—with your kids, using some of these fun and educational activities.
• Today’s Multitasking TeensToday’s teens spend seven-plus hours a day involved with some type of technology or media—including time when they’re studying or doing homework. A researcher specializing in teens and media offers tips for parents to help kids disconnect and focus.
• 13 Summer Learning ActivitiesThese fun activities can help keep kids’ math and language arts skills sharp during the summer break.
• Summer Fun and LearningNeed something for your kids to do this summer? Try these activities that balance fun with learning.
• Teach Your Child To Love ReadingThese tips from teachers will help your early elementary school child read better and enjoy reading more.
• Top 20 Destinations for LearningLooking for great places to visit with your children? You can’t go wrong with these—our favorite spots where education is so fun, your kids won’t even know they’re learning.

View all 'Learning at Home' articles.