I'm Tired of the Homework Hassle

"I'm so tired of the homework hassle.  I finally gave up and told my son to just stay in his room for an hour.  I don't want to help him with homework any more, and I don't want to fight him about doing it.  Now he's a mess because he's not ready for finals.  When he's stressed, my life is crazy miserable."

Haven't we all felt this way!  We probably reached this point many times as students ourselves.  A version of this quote preys on every parent's mind.  Let me try to uncork it for you:

1. I agree.  I'm a teacher, and I don't like the homework hassle.  I resent that a teacher has the power to determine how I spend my free time with my children.  
2. Homework is a fact of life.  It will continue whether or not you approve and whether or not you help with it.
3. Homework doesn't have to be punitive, and it can be fun.
4. Studying with friends sends important messages.  Don't isolate your children.  Let them study with friends.  Making homework social gets the homework done with less hassle and sends a message that peers do homework, too.
5. When they study with friends, you can share the work with other parents. 
6. You have homework, too.  When your children moan about doing homework, remind them that after they finish school, everything is homework.  If you help them with their homework, they must help you with yours. 
7. Remember that healthy snacks are part of the homework process.  You'll be surprised at how much easier homework is with food.

Lockett Learning Systems has a plethora of resources to help parents help their children with homework:  Check out our:

 Books and E-Books

You Tube Channel
Prize-Winning Book Home Sweet Homework 

"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.  You find the fun and - SNAP - the job's a game."  Mary Poppins by Pamela Lyndon Travers

Pass On Your Priorities . Use "Parent Power"

I said an earthly good-bye to a dear friend and professional mentor last week.  Since then, I have spent much time reflecting on what is truly important in life and asking myself if I am living and sharing what I truly believe.  

Dr. Kogee Thomas was a rare and amazing person from so many perspectives.  One of her greatest sources of pride was her education.

More than 60% of US high school students go to college.  Only 17% of American Indians go.  Kogee went.

Approximately 28% of American students complete college.  Only 13% of American Indian students do so.  Kogee was one of the 13%.

In 2017, only 109 American Indian students earned a PhD.  That's .19% of the 54,664 PhD's awarded that year by American colleges and universities.  Kogee is one of the 109. 

• Kogee truly believed that everyone should have a quality education.
• She took time to connect with friends.
• She always had a new joke.
• She believed that life is bigger than we are and that we should invest in eternity while we are here.  That included protecting the earth for future generations and preparing ourselves for the afterlife.  
• She had a deep faith.  She is one of the few that manage to connect head and heart.

I am lucky that she was my mentor. I am blessed that she called me friend.

Kogee believed that parents have great power in the educational system...and that they should use it.  

Listen to her interview, "Parent Power," on our YouTube channel.

(click here)

Parent Power

I've been reflecting especially this last week.  I live a blessed life.  I have a deep faith.  I am learning, now, better ways to pass on my values and live my beliefs.

What about you?

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http://blog.nativepartnership.org/graduation-rates-american-indian-education/

https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2008/nativetrends/highlights.asp

https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf19301/data

What's Going On?!?

My child knows it one day and not the next!  What's Happening?

I'm so glad you asked!  I can't definitively answer your question, but I'm so glad you asked!

It could be any number of things...literally thousands!  But they all fall into one of four categories:

Physical:
Food allergies, lack of sleep, malnutrition, high or low blood sugar, vision or hearing difficulties, etc.


Emotional:
Illness, death, or divorce of a loved one (including a pet); recent fight with parents, siblings, teachers or friends; self esteem issues such as feelings of inferiority; grief in any form, etc.

Intellectual: 
Miss-match between learning style of student and teacher, miss-match between learning style and testing style, poor study skills, etc.


Spiritual:
Lack of vision or goal, behaving in a manner that doesn't match personal values, etc.

PLEASE NOTE:

Low IQ is not included in any of the above categories.  If your child is smart enough to go to school, your child has all the intelligence he or she needs to succeed.  All that is lacking is information, strategies, and/or help.   

To help these children, use a process we call "Work The Circle."  It is explained in detail in our YouTube publication.  Click here:

 

I Think I Can...

I was raised by the most wonderful grandmother...

Except for one thing.  Every time I would moan, "I can't...," she would chant:

"Never say 'I can't.'  Say 'I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can." (from The Little Engine That Could by Matty Piper).

She never ever let me off the hook.  She helped me find alternatives, strategies, strength, direction.  But if it was important, she never let me give up.

I hated it!

As my son grew up, when he would say, "I can't...," I would chant:

"Never say 'I can't.'  Say 'I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can." (from The Little Engine That Could by Matty Piper).

I taught him many life skills including one that is especially important:

     You always, always, always have choices.

Then I helped him explore those choices to make a wiser decision next time around.  Like my grandmother mentored me, I helped him find alternatives, strategies, strength, and direction.

Now it's my grandson's turn.  My son, his mother, and I all play on the same team.

I hated it then.  I love it now!

I miss you, Gram. 

I'm a Sucker for Christmas!

I admit it.  I'm a sucker for Christmas.  I'm into Jesus all year long...all life long.  I'm into Santa Claus.  I'm into baking and shopping and partying and gifting and singing.  You name it, and if it has to do with Christmas, I LOVE it!

Do Christmas and Santa really coexist?  In my heart they do.  My favorite Christmas decoration dons a place of honor every year under my tree.

Whether you are religious or not, Christmas calls you to everything right with the world and challenges you to live a better life.  We NEED that reminder, at least once a year.

As life goes through its ups and downs, joys and sorrows, laughter and tears, Christmas comes:

In the passion of our joy, it gives us permission to savor the good life.
In the depths of our despair, it gives us hope of a better tomorrow.
In the midst of our failure, it gives us vision and wisdom.
In the challenges of our lives, it gives us strength.

If this Christmas finds you in a good place, remember to pay it forward.
If this Christmas finds you grieving and struggling, hang on.  Tomorrow really is another day.  You might find help in our YouTube Video Handling the Holidays with a Broken Heart:

May Christmas bring you peace, love, and joy.  There are no greater gifts.