How to make your child a lifelong learner - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

As students head back to the classroom, it's time for parents to gear up for back-to-school habits, too.

Dr. Rosemary Hodges, Associate Professor of Education at Athens State University, encourages parents to adopt seven key behaviors to help students learn to love learning.

The first step is to figure out your child's learning style. There are basically three categories; visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Visual learners have to see a lesson to believe it. Auditory learners have to hear the important parts repeated to them aloud. Kinesthetic learners need movement, demonstrations, and role playing to best grasp concepts.

"If their child likes to move around and learn, or they twist their hair while they're learning, those are kinesthetic kids. They have to have movement, and they love movement while they're learning," Hodges said. "Often times it can be confused with not paying attention, but it is just the fact that they are kinesthetic learners."

It is essential that your child's teacher knows everything you know about the way they learn, and for that you'll need to communicate with them. Hodges said the best way to begin communication is to set up a conference with your child's teacher and enlist their help.

"Setting up an initial conference, letting them know what the little quirks are with your kids, saying what you found [works] best at home, that really helps. It will help the teacher identify how strong the student is and what is the best way to teach them," Hodges said.

She suggests you partner with your child's school to keep them on track and talk to their teacher on a regular basis. Find the best option for both of you, whether it is through email or notes home. Experts also suggest joining PTA to stay up on all of the happenings at school. This will give your child a better chance to become involved in extra curricular activities and be more invested in their school experience. You can also try to volunteer as a classroom parent. Even if it is just putting up a bulletin board for the teacher, that helps establish a partnership with them and shows your child that you have a relationship with their teacher and are involved.

An equally important step is to keep your child focused. Education experts believe one of the most critical things a parent can do is set a routine for getting homework done.

If your child comes straight home from school, let them have a 15 to 20 minute break to have a snack or just relax, and then hit the homework. Set up a specific place in the house where they have space and quiet to do their work.

"It is difficult, because you have your ball players, you have your cheerleaders, you have your dancers, but even they need a routine. They need to know that if they go to practice, they need to get their homework done at this hour," Hodges explained. "Practice may be right after school, and they still need time to delineate between school, practice, take a break, let's get the homework done."

When your child does well in school, Hodges said you should make an effort to celebrate their success.Congratulate them on even the little accomplishments. It's positive reinforcement. That might mean taking them for a movie night, or letting them bring a friend to dinner to celebrate a great grade on a test.

When your child faces struggles in school, stay positive. Do not allow your child to say, "I'm bad at math," or "I'm no good at reading." Let them know that if they work hard enough they can develop adequate skills in every subject.

Once you get them on track, you'll want to track their progress. Hodges recommends you keep a portfolio with their best work inside.

"With a portfolio or keeping records, all of that translates into adulthood," Hodges said. "You are taught those skills at a young age. So, the first thing you start remembering is, where did I start? Where would I like to be? And then you set a standard to progress in that direction."

It's all about goal setting, but when they don't live up to those goals, you have to let them know they're not the only one who messes up. Parents have to provide perspective. Make sure they realize that no one is perfect, not even you.

"When you make a mistake, you need to say, 'Wow, I made a mistake... This is what I'm going to do to correct it.' It gives the student or your child permission to say, 'I made a mistake and I want to do it a different way,'" she said. "But, if they never see it modeled, they're never going to admit it."

Click here to print out a consolidated list of tips. Hodges suggests you keep it on your refrigerator so you're reminded to keep things on track throughout the year.

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