Expert Offers Tips to Help Students Set Goals for Success at School
With a new school year upon us and in the face of stagnant test scores and fresh controversy over the government's "No Child Left Behind" initiative, many parents and teachers are more concerned than ever about the nation's education system. But one expert says that even under the most trying conditions, students have the tools needed to ensure academic success.
(PRWEB) September 3, 2004 -- With a new school year upon us and in the face
of stagnant test scores and fresh controversy over the government's "No Child
Left Behind" initiative, many parents and teachers are more concerned than ever
about the nation's education system. But one expert says that even under the
most trying conditions, students have the tools needed to ensure academic
success.
"Last year, our nation spent over $382 billion on education,"
says John Bishop, president of Accent on Success®, a non-profit organization
dedicated to helping students achieve success in the classroom and in life, and
author of Goal-Setting for Students®. "Over 99 percent of that was spent on what
adults will do to give students a learning environment--buildings, books,
science labs, teachers, sports programs, etc. But what we really need to do is
spend some of this money to teach students how they can step up to the plate and
take ownership of their education."
Bishop was inspired to translate his
more than 25 years of corporate training and development experience into a
student-specific, goal-setting program after talking with his teenage
granddaughter about the challenges of educational success in often
resource-poor, cash-strapped schools. Goal Setting for Students® was created
with the help of several education and curricula experts and includes a student
workbook and teacher¹s manual.
"When students take educational ownership
they take personal responsibility to do something meaningful and positive to
change their lives," Bishop says. "With that ownership comes dignity and
self-respect. This translates into a can-do attitude that will have a positive
impact on attendance, class participation, discipline, personal decision making
and test results."
Bishop offers the following tips for parents and
teachers who want to help students get started on the path to successful
goal-setting:
--Don¹t allow students to make excuses for poor
performance. They must take responsibility for their success or
failure.
--Help students visualize their goals. A vision for future success
is crucial to staying the course.
--Allow students to voice their opinions
and ideas in a non-threatening environment.
--Help students use positive
language, such as "I will" and "I can."
--Demonstrate the importance of
helping others.
--Help students understand that success takes motivation,
determination and effort.
Download a free chapter from the Goal Setting
for Students® workbook at http://www.goalsettingforstudents.com
[GoalSettingforStudents.com].
About Accent On Success®
Accent On
Success® is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping students achieve
success in the classroom and in life. The Goal Setting for Students® workbook is
the first book in the series.
The Accent on Success and Goal Setting for
Students names, symbols and logos are registered trademarks of Accent On
Success®, 29 Benton Place, St. Louis, MO 63104.
Media Contact:
John
Bishop
888.664.6110
fax: 314-664-6577
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/9/prweb154694.htm