Characteristics of Successful Students by Steven B. Westhoff, Superintendent Reed City Area Public.
Schools As parents, we all want
the same thing for our kids – success. We all want our kids to be winners. We
want all of our children to be happy. Success in the classroom is definitely a
step in the right direction. However, we sometimes wonder what exactly
successful students look like. What are their characteristics? Lots of research
has been done in the area of student success. And though there can be several
different definitions for success, we’re really talking about getting good
grades and fulfilling the requirements at a given level to move to the next
level or graduate. So, here’s what the research says about successful students:-
• Attend class regularly and on
time
• Turn in all assignments
• Do assignments neatly
• Speak up in class
• Set short-term and long-term
goals
• Learn to set aside time for
homework
• Ask for extra help from the
teacher if they need it
• Pay attention in class and are
polite
• See their teachers before and
after class
• Enjoy being successful students
• Know they are responsible for
their success
• Have parents who are involved
in their education.
Now I know some of you are
saying, “surprise, surprise, they just do what’s right.” Well, actually,
although the list looks that way, there’s more to it than that and some keys.
Let me pare down the list for you to the basics.
Successful students hold
themselves accountable, set goals, and have parents who are involved in their
education. That’s it, that’s all it takes. So how do you teach accountability?
You live it, you model it, you talk about it, and you let your child experience
it.
Accountability has two sides –
the positive side and the negative side. When students experience success (and
you can catch them doing something right), they need to have that behavior
reinforced and rewarded. When students experience failure, discuss what led to the
failure, what needs to be changed for success, and then move on.
We need to be careful not to
dwell on the failures more than the successes. Do your children have goals?
Talk to your kids tonight about where they want to be in five years from now,
in ten years from now. It makes a very big difference. Children who have goals begin to
see the relationship between today’s actions and tomorrow’s results, and that’s
very important.
My kids have a list ten miles
long of things they want; they’re starting to develop a list of what they need
to do to get some of those things. And, trust me; they know that mom and dad
won’t provide them all. Your involvement in your child’s education means
everything. Involvement at school, involvement at the dinner table when
homework is being completed, and involvement in discussions on a regular basis
about what your children did that day at school and how important their
education is.
Don’t accept those standard
answers, “we did nothing,” “I don’t know,” and “I’m too tired.” Your children
are measuring the importance and value of education to you every time you have
these discussions. Your child knows how important it is not to scratch the new
car with their bikes when they ride by because of the tone and emphasis you had
during that discussion. The message should be loud and clear when it comes to
your child’s education.
Very few things in life are more
important than a quality education. I’m sure we all agree that success for our
children is certainly a top priority. Working together, we can guarantee that
our children will end up winners, successful, and happy.
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