(ThyBlackMan.com) African-American students often come up short when it comes to academic achievement. Falling behind their peers in standardized test scores, high school graduation rates and enrollment in the most rigorous classes, is the norm. According to reports, black children have less access to educational opportunities that prime them for college. African-American students, particularly boys, score lower on standardized tests, have lower high school graduation rates and are more likely to drop out of college than their white peers.
Here are a few tips to help you raise smart kids inside and outside of the classroom:
* Build Character. Start by focusing on the basics: reading, 
writing and arithmetic. Research suggests that soft skills, or character strengths, play a role in getting ahead. Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character (Manner), explained “Things like the ability to persevere at a difficult task, to bounce back from disappointment or to calm down after a stressful situation matter as much as, if not more than, IQ in how well children do in school”. By balancing expectations with warmth and responsiveness, parents will be able to have discussions about what their child is feeling and thinking.
* Focus on Hard Work. Praising children for their effort helps them to build confidence and tackle obstacles which is a trait that is imperative for success. Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck has researched achievement among public school children. In one study, Dweck engaged a group of fifth-graders in a task, afterward teachers praised half the students forbeing “good workers” and the other half for being “smart.” The students were then offered an opportunity to work on a challenging or an easy task. Those who’d been told they were “hard workers” chose the difficult puzzle, while those praised for being smart selected an easier task.
* Negotiate with your teen. Black teens are more reluctant in class to introduce themselves and discuss where they are from and what they are interested in. White teens among the same age demographics tend to visit teacher offices to dispute grades or discuss their class day. Interactions with teachers and professors can make a huge difference in grading outcomes, letters of recommendation or acquiring scholarships. Black parents tend to boss their children around, whereas white parents tend negotiate with their teens and allow them to make a solid argument for the matters they are presenting. In black homes, teens are taught to be obedient, without talking back or asking questions. These same teens usually grow up to be adults afraid of asking for a raise or job promotion.
We are no longer living in a society where one reaches great heights based solely on the class grades. In today’s society, it is imperative to know how to think critically for yourself, communicate effectively with authority, and create a solid argument to support your ideas. Smart kids do not simply get good grades, they excel in every area of life.
Staff Writer; Dina Tuff
333rd Eye Healing Temple
Reconnecting Consciousness to Magick
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