Being a Good Student

One of the things we want for our children as we raise them is for them to be good students. Being a good student means that a person knows how to learn and then does what it takes to learn. Being a good student has much more to do with character than it does IQ. How can you help your child to be a good student? To be a good student, a young people must…

Pay attention. If a child pays attention, he will learn. Most school learning takes place during instruction time. Children must discipline their thinking to focus on the task at hand, and not let their minds wonder. It is a decision to think, and thinking is hard. But if they learn to pay attention, they will learn and develop patterns for life.

Sit up straight. Just like the mind wants to take the easy way out, so does the body. When a child sits up straight, he demonstrates mastery over his body. Good posture helps concentration and develops self-control.

Do their best. On every problem, on every assignment, every day—do your best. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecc. 9:10). As parents, you lead them to do their best. Have a high standard and expect them to do their best. Then praise them when they do. Eventually, the standard will become theirs.

Be organized. “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Papers organized, books and backpacks organized, schedules organized, homework organized—children need help organizing their lives, and it starts at home. Teach them to organize their bedroom, their closet and dresser, and their time.

Finish their work. Jesus finished the work the Father sent Him to do, and our children should be the same way. Finishing is hard. It takes determination and sacrifice. If children develop the pattern of finishing tasks on time and doing their best, in time they can be trusted with noteworthy duties because they have added the character trait of follow through.