YOUTHFUL LIVING Sec. 6 4 ler ourier-Tlmes-Telegraph SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1 997 Parents Can Help Children Earn Better Grades Summer College Graduates Announced By DORIS WILD HELMER1NG St. Louis Post-Dispatch 1 Many parents start the school year expecting that this year things will be different. Their child will get motivated to study and get better grades. Better study habits and an improved grade-point aver-.
age don't happen just because it's a new school year. In fact, research shows that most students do pretty much the. same grade-wise year after year. Occasionally an exception occurs. A student becomes motivated because he has matured or a particularly talented teacher has ignited his interest.
But for most poor students, it's "same old, same old." Parents are disappointed with thir child's achievement and the child accepts his or her own mediocrity. If you truly want things to change this year, create an action plan. Ask your child what hell be doing differently this year. And what will you do differently? When I asked Marcie, a soon-to-be high school freshman, what would help her do better in school, she said it would help if her parents would stop nagging about studying. "When they tell" me to go study, I think, 'Stop trying to run my Marcie wants her parents to trust that shell get her work done.
She likes to unwind and watch television when she gets home from school. Her plan is to do homework each night after dinner for two hours and make use of her study periods. On Saturday and Sunday shell put in what's required to complete all assignments. She's aiming for B-pluses. Marcie's mother has agreed to back off, not nag, and have dinner at home instead of going out on school nights.
"It takes too much time to go out for dinner," says Marcie, "and when "we get home after dinner, it's hard to get going on my homework." Jim and Wb parents have come up with a plan to help Jim, a junior, get better grades. "We've already arranged for Jim to see a tutor two nights a week. And we've decided not to let him work during the week." Jim's parents believe his job should be his classes, extracurricular activities and getting good grades. Next year when he turns 18, they plan to help him buy a car if all goes well this year. "Going well" translates to at least a 2.7 grade point average and participation in one extracurricular activity.
When I asked one seventh-grader who's done well how he handles his schedule, be said, "I play with my friends after school. After dinner my dad and I play a few games of pool. I do homework after that," He usually spends an hour, sometimes two on homework. He says studying is never a problem. He's not a television watcher and doesn't talk on the telephone.
Other ideas for parents and children to elevate a student's GPA this year: Check in each week with the school counselor regarding your child's progress. Sit and read at the kitchen table while your child does his homework. Establish a rule about television such as "no television after 7 p.m.," or "no television until homework is done or "no television on during the week." Promise to play a board game with your child once she completes her homework. Establish the ritual of having a family treat after homework is finished, such as ice cream or popcorn. VEor.
children who do poorly in school, success is more likely if parents and child make a plan together. In the next week, read over this column with your child and come up with a plan. elor of arts; Kara D. Easley, bachelor of business administration; Raymond Jeffery Fortner, bachelor of science; Deborah Jean McClenan, master of education; Robin Lynn Moore, bachelor of science, Kristi M. Patrick, bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies.
Nacogdoches: Lori Ann Padgett, master of education. Wills Point: Mary Jean Deen, master of science; Jimmy T. Lamb, master of education; Christy G. Phillips, master of education; Tonya A. Rabenaldt, bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies; Darrell Frank Reid, bachelor of science; Staci Jill Staton, master of education.
Winnsboro: Tinaj Michelle Moore, bachelor of science; and Barry Wayne Rogers, bachelor of science. Yantis: Kate Regan McAlister, bachelor of science; James R. Stacks, master of science. TWU Tyler: Richard L. Sale, doctorate in family studies.
Scholarship Recipient Stephen Lehmann of Tyler received a Team Member Scholarship for $1,000 from Chick-fil-A Inc. The corporation awards the scholarships to employees who have completed high school, worked with the corporation two consecutive years and completed 2,000 working hours, and who will be continuing their education at an accredited school. Lehmann attends Stephen, F. Austin State University. College Graduates Stephen F.
Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas University-Commerce and Texas Woman's University, Denton, have announced their summer graduates for 1997. Graduates from East Texas include: SFA Tyler Sheri Ann Bostik, master of physical education; Ginger R. Dickson, master of arts in community counseling; William M. Hallmark, bachelor of arts in speech communication; and Marilyn Hayden, master of education in secondary education. Also, Veronica M.
Moore, bachelor of arts in communication radiotelevision; Gregg Steven Toon, bachelor of business administration in accounting; Kevin Scott Whitman, master of education in secondary education. Tyler: Amy Marie Honeycutt, master of business administration. Athens: Terri Ferguson, bachelor of business administration. Big Sandy: Edward Douglas Mauzey, doctor of education. Brownsboro: Lord A.
Beall, bachelor of science; Joe David Guerra, master of education. Gilmer: Cathy Jane Curtis, bachelor of science. Jacksonville: Kelli Monique Cross, bachelor of science. Mineola: Debra Kay Lewis, master of science. Mount Pleasant: Tonja Doddy, bach Hard At Play Schools Join In Advertising Game by local school policies, and would seem easily kept out.
But as Grapevine-Colleyville workers applied advertising signs ony buses getting ready for the school year, they found and rejected one promoting Red Robin restaurant in Grapevine. The advertisem*nt said, "Red Robin, Burger and Spirits Emporium," language that slipped through the district's initial screening. "I hope that we can find something else that will make the advertiser happy, but that will meet our guidelines," district spokeswoman Louise Henry said. And in Tarrant County, obvious advertising appeals such as promotions of Nike athletic gear, Gatorade and Guess? jeans are kept out of the classroom altogether. "Ads in the classroom are too far," Grapevine-Colleyville Trustee Alan Linford Teen Talk Sister's Mistakes Should Not Limit Younger Sibling By CAROLYN LEA WILSON and ROSE MARY GONZALEZ Scripps Howard News Service tj: I have recently started going to the mall and other places with my sister and her boyfriend.
I thought they wanted me to go with them. Then, out of the blue, my dad said I was forbidden from going anywhere with my sister. When he said this, I began to cry because I really enjoy going out with her. Later, I found out that my dad didn't want me going out with my sister because she had gotten pregnant at 16 years of age and I am now 16. 1 told my mom it wasn't fair I make good grades, play softball and behave maturely what more do they want? I feel as if I'm in prison for something my sister did.
In our work as teachers We often see cases where the older sister got pregnant and the younger sister did the same, even after warnings and witnessing the hardships involved in early motherhood. Your dad's concern is understandable; however, it is unfair to be judged by your sister's mistakes. Research has shown that teenage girls who perform well in school and set long-term goals for themselves, such as college, are less likely to have babies. Teen-age girls who ditch school, make poor grades and don't participate in ricular activities are at a higher risk for teen-age pregnancies. You seem to be on the right track doing well in school, participating in sports and setting goals.
We advise you tell your parents about your plans and dreams. Let them know you are aware of why they worry. If you calmly and respectfully discuss this situation withiyour parents, they'll probably agree. Recently, I read your column about a young lady who feels left out of relationships because she has a child. One of my sisters went through a very similar situation, so I can relate.
I'd very much like to contact this girl and maybe begin a pen-pal correspondence. Can you help me with this matter? Your wanting to help ease a difficult situation for someone is commendable. We regret to say all personal information about our writers is confidential. UI 'Carolyn Iea Wilson is a teacher at E.B. Wilson High School in Hendersonoille, TN.
Rose Mary Gonzalez is a coordinator at the Ysleta Independent School District in El Paso, TX. Questions mav be addressed to Teen Talk, El Paso Herald-Post? P.O. Box 371965. El Paso, TX 799937.) said. But those promoting newspapers, banks, sports drinks, soft drinks and other products are OK on the side of a bus, inside an athletic stadium, a cafeteria or a gymnasium in more and more districts.
And advertisem*nts appear to be popping Up in new places with increasing regularity. In June, fund raising hit the roof in Grapevine-Colleyville when the district signed a 10-year, $3.45 million deal with Dr Pepper, making it the first district in the nation to open the roofs of its buildings to advertisem*nts. The Strategy is aimed at passengers traveling in and out of DallasFort Worth Airoort. FORT WORTH (AP) Question: What is yellow and black and has golden arches on the side? Answer: A Grapevine-Colleyville school bus. Students commuting to Grapevine-Colleyville schools via the big yellow cheese may have been surprised to discover this year that their buses aren't that yellow anymore.
Instead, they are splashed with white banners displaying McDonald's golden arches, Dr Pepper slogans and the name of a local orthodontist. And in a few weeks, the rooftops of at least two schools in the district will also bear a new look: Dr Pepper's dark maroon logo. Advertising is gracing school buildings, buses, lunchrooms, electronic signs and playgrounds as never before. In Tarrant County, and across the country, school districts are raking in millions of dollars from marketing opportunities that they can offer businesses large and small. The money is going to fund programs that districts say they might otherwise have to forgo: computers, buses, scholarships and improved athletic facilities.
"I think it's a good idea and creative way to bring money into the district to help support school activities," said Mary Ann Nicholson, whose children attend Grapevine High School. But as the volume of advertisem*nts has grown, so has criticism. Some consumer groups say the advertising messages are aimed at a captive audience and sometimes contradictory to classroom lessons. "To us it is totally inappropriate to be using public space to advertise to children," said Anita Holmes, assistant director of edu- cation services at Consumers Union in New York. "They try to make it right by advertising a positive message, but that is just sanitizing a marketing message." In Texas, there is no state oversight of where and what kinds of advertisem*nts students are subjected to.
Instead, each school district makes its own rules. "It's strictly governed by local DeEtta Culvertson, a spokeswoman for Texas Education Agency. State control "would be like telling them what soft drinks they could sell at their football and basketball games." School officials perform something of a balancing act, exploring marketing venues while attempting to protect students against inappropriate or overpowering messages. Promotion of alcohol and tobacco is taboo Top Grapevine-Colleyville advertisers besides Dr Pepper Include Baylor Medical Center at Grapevine, Schroeder Orthodontics, the Star-Telegram and Better Bodies Much of the advertising revenues in Grapevine-Colleyville will be used to buy school buses, district officials said. The Lake Worth school district is also selling advertising space on school buses.
Most Fort Worth high schools and middle schools have exclusive contracts that give all the campus soft-drink business to one company, with the individual school keeping the nrofits. -Staff Photo By Charles Small DISCOVERY OF FUN Abby Sears, who is 15 months old, plays in the toddler area at The Discovery Science Place, 308 N. Broadway. The children's learning museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday. U.S. Naval Academy Hosts Information Program District officials are now considering whether to grant an exclusive contract to one company for all Fort Worth schools, which could bring in $5 million to $7 million during 10 years. Hurst-Euless-Bedford and Keller school districts have hopped on the fund-raising bandwagon with deals with Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. and Coca-Cola Bottling respectively.
invited to attend. The program will be held in the Monte Carlo Auditorium of the hotel at 2201 Stemmons Freeway. For more information about the program, contact either Naval Academy Blue and Gold Area Coordinator, Captain Bill Meek at (817)460-3233 or Captain John Lopez III at (972)690-3845. Local high school students and their families will be able to meet top administration officials of the United States Naval Academy from a.m. Sept.
20 at Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas. Participants will learn about educational opportunities at the academy during the admissions information program. High school guidance counselors and principals are also BACK TO SCHOOL! Movie Glass! 1. Arnold Stars in Hit Movie! LJ Your school day is broken down into Entertainment 2. Peace Treaty Signed different classes and subjects.
But did you know this paper is divided into subjects, too? Different sections deal with different topics, events and ideas. We've listed four possible topics below. Write the section of -the paper where you might 1 GREAT STUFF FOR GREAT KIDS 3. How to Make Tofu Cookies 4. Football Hero Saves the Game! FROM THE GTI FAMILY OF MAGAZINES toictu cim ud hM sm find them.
(We ve done one for you.) find them. (We ve done one for you.) -lmtiM but STRAWS Till The Find out which one of these kids isn't ready to go back to school. Use the clues below, (nswer at bottom.) 1. The kid is wearing shoes. 2.
The kid is to the right of the book bag. 3. The kid is a boy. II -O Beady for time off? The average kid stays home sick from school five days a year. For more about KID CITY and other Children's Television Workshop publications, please write to: Kid City.
One Lincoln Plaza, New York, NY, 10023. Copyright 1897 Children's Television Workshop (1tpi ia iptai aanp uqvmn uuuoy).
