When testing reveals a “bright” child, the news gives parents a dose of good feelings, but this short-term rejoicing might turn into long-term frustration if the “bright” child does not produce the desired results at school.

What usually follows is pointing the all-too-familiar finger of blame. The child is bright, but he is just not motivated. He is lazy. He just does not live up to his potential.

I have bad news: there is no “good grades” fairy.

And what about the parents? I have heard many comment that they did not really learn to study until they were in college. Surely this did not happen because their college professors suddenly took an interest in teaching them how to study. More likely, it was the result of maturity years of trial and error with different ways of doing academic work, until they hit upon the methods that were effective for them. Learning to learn was a process of experimentation…

Whether your son participates in advanced classes is not nearly as important as helping him set personal goals for success in life…

As your son sets goals for his life and not just his school performance, help him to understand that he will need resilience, determination and self-respect in aiming for goals and not giving up.

Source: Reading Eagle
http://www.readingeagle.com/re/lifestyle/1621470.asp