From Good Student to Exceptional Student: What Does it Take?
Supportive and engaged parents often see their children perform well in school—from enjoying their lessons and completing their assignments diligently to getting reasonably good grades.
But after spending so much time with their children and getting to know their true intellectual potential, perceptive parents often wonder if there’s even more room for growth and if there are untapped resources their children could use to become truly exceptional performers.
With a few adjustments in work habits and outlook, many times they can. Here are just a few ways to help your children grow into everything you know they can be.
Set clear expectations—but stay inspiring and supportive.
Sometimes we’re so busy praising our children for what they’ve already achieved (and rightly so!) that they don’t realize that they could improve even more. For instance, students who are consistently rewarded for “B’s” won’t necessarily push themselves to work a little harder to get “A’s” unless they know that’s what you expect from them.
To help make the “push,” let your child know that you believe in their abilities – but make it about their potential, not their grades. If your child starts thinking that you’re pushing them towards an “A” for the sake of an “A,” they’ll become discouraged and even resentful.
Recognize personal preferences.
Small changes in study habits designed to accommodate individual inclinations can make a big difference in results. For example, if you’ve always insisted that homework must be completed right after school, try allowing your daughter to watch her favorite TV program first. You might find that she no longer rushes through the work so that she can get to the activity she really wants to do and instead is more focused once she finally sits down with her books.
