Five Tips for Helping Kids Succeed in School

What makes a good school a great school? We all want our children to receive the best education possible and this, of course, begins with a positive attitude towards school. While the influence and encouragement of parents is vital, what factors can schools themselves control to make for a happier and more productive school environment?

After 36 years as an educator, Mike Schutz, recently retired elementary school principal in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, shared his suggestions with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - (Dec. 30, 2007 issue). He offers some excellent suggestions that he implemented, things that are often ignored or downplayed, but shouldn't be.

Kindness

Mr. Schutz states that everyone tends to respond well to kindness, giving learning a better chance to take root and develop where it is a regular part of the school picture. For some children, school is the only place they will experience it. In my experience as a social worker, I can recall several children who wanted nothing more than to go to school, even when sick, just so they could be around laughter and happiness.

A Sense of Playfulness

Having fun and the use of humor...those are the things kids remember more than anything. Mr. Schutz fondly remembers starting a silly tradition of leading the entire student body and educators in "howling at the moon" the first school day after a full moon every month.

All of the students and staff, on the count of three, would literally break out in a huge, unanimous howl. Silly? Absolutely, but more importantly, it was a positive way to connect with the students. After one such "mass howling" a student approached him and, with a huge grin, said, "Mr. Schutz, you're crazy!"

Slow Down the Pace of Life

Schutz emphasizes that teachers and students alike need time "to think, to dream and to reflect." He expresses concern that hurried child syndrome is having a negative impact on learning as more and more is expected of them.