Why Bright Kids Get Poor Grades : And What You Can Do About It

Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource for coping with underachievement
Review: "I simply want to thank you for sharing your life's work in the area of underachievement. I stumbled upon Why Bright Kids Get Poor Grades as I was desperately trying to discover other dimensions and clues to our 11-year-old son's academic struggles. Although he was diagnosed with ADD almost three years ago and has been afforded additional adaptive learning styles and tutoring, underachievement was never mentioned. Had I not embarked on this little research project independently, I would never have discovered this important area of study. Some of your descriptions and quotations in the book gave me chills, since we had heard some of the same things from our son verbatim!! Thank you for giving me a trail to follow and the vital information needed to help him be a success. The greatest gift we can give him is self-confidence and self-reliance. Your work has helped clarify methods to use to allow him to believe in himself. Thank you again" Columbus OH

Rating:
Summary: A practical guide to happy, productive children
Review: Dr. Rimm's book applies to all kinds of children -- above average, below average, and "just plain normal" kids -- and, while it's targeted towards parents and teachers of children who are currently underacheiving, it can actually be helpful to teachers and parents even if you don't see any major problems with your children.

I was in the administration at a private school for bright and highly motivated students, and I can't tell you how many times I turned the page in this book, jerked to attention, and said, "Exactly! It's the fourth grade boy whose mom..." or "That's the certified teacher whose M.A. in education and 18 years' classroom experience doesn't stop her from telling her own girls..." or even "That explains why I hated the 'fun' Gifted and Talented program in sixth grade!"

I found Dr. Rimm's approach straightforward and practical; no suggestion in the book is controversial or tending to the dramatic.

The book is organized by personality type and age so you can customize the approach to your own situation. She has clear suggestions for enrolling staff assistance and dealing with divorced/blended family issues.

Her writing is credibly reinforced by research and her own clinical practice.

I was particularly impressed with her sections on "Yes-No parenting" and ADD/ADHD kids. If your child is a "late-developing" or "borderline" ADD student (or if you just want to keep him or her off Ritalin), then you need to read this book for the simplest, clearest explanataion of what you can do right now.

However, my professional experience has taught me that a few parents (and teachers) are emotionally attached to their own, occasionally extreme "philosophy" about children, so let me add a few words for them:

In my own office, I have seen well-educated, loving parents choose their "philosophy" over time-tested, research-supported, developmentally appropriate methods of dealing with children. Usually, these people are parenting out of their own emotional wounds. In my experience, their children are much more likely to develop severe emotional and attention problems.

This is for these parents: The basic reality of life is that YOUR actions affect the outcome. If YOU want a DIFFERENT outcome, then YOU need to try DIFFERENT actions.

If your children are underacheiving, defiant, needy, controlling, or attention-dependent, you MAY have to make a choice between keeping your philosophy and having confident, productive children.

This may be a hard decision to make, especially if your philosophy is driven by still-raw wounds from your own childhood or recent traumas. And there are substantial consequences for your decision.

If you're committed to your philosophy, or if you are parenting out of your emotional wounds, then you probably won't LIKE this book until you resolve your own emotional trauma.

But when you're ready to try something that works, get this book -- it can help you develop a stable, happy, confident, effective child.

Rating:
Summary: A practical guide to happy, productive children
Review: Dr. Rimm's book applies to all kinds of children -- above average, below average, and "just plain normal" kids -- and, while it's targeted towards parents and teachers of children who are currently underacheiving, it can actually be helpful to teachers and parents even if you don't see any major problems with your children.

I was in the administration at a private school for bright and highly motivated students, and I can't tell you how many times I turned the page in this book, jerked to attention, and said, "Exactly! It's the fourth grade boy whose mom..." or "That's the certified teacher whose M.A. in education and 18 years' classroom experience doesn't stop her from telling her own girls..." or even "That explains why I hated the 'fun' Gifted and Talented program in sixth grade!"

I found Dr. Rimm's approach straightforward and practical; no suggestion in the book is controversial or tending to the dramatic.

The book is organized by personality type and age so you can customize the approach to your own situation. She has clear suggestions for enrolling staff assistance and dealing with divorced/blended family issues.

Her writing is credibly reinforced by research and her own clinical practice.

I was particularly impressed with her sections on "Yes-No parenting" and ADD/ADHD kids. If your child is a "late-developing" or "borderline" ADD student (or if you just want to keep him or her off Ritalin), then you need to read this book for the simplest, clearest explanataion of what you can do right now.

However, my professional experience has taught me that a few parents (and teachers) are emotionally attached to their own, occasionally extreme "philosophy" about children, so let me add a few words for them:

In my own office, I have seen well-educated, loving parents choose their "philosophy" over time-tested, research-supported, developmentally appropriate methods of dealing with children. Usually, these people are parenting out of their own emotional wounds. In my experience, their children are much more likely to develop severe emotional and attention problems.

This is for these parents: The basic reality of life is that YOUR actions affect the outcome. If YOU want a DIFFERENT outcome, then YOU need to try DIFFERENT actions.

If your children are underacheiving, defiant, needy, controlling, or attention-dependent, you MAY have to make a choice between keeping your philosophy and having confident, productive children.

This may be a hard decision to make, especially if your philosophy is driven by still-raw wounds from your own childhood or recent traumas. And there are substantial consequences for your decision.

If you're committed to your philosophy, or if you are parenting out of your emotional wounds, then you probably won't LIKE this book until you resolve your own emotional trauma.

But when you're ready to try something that works, get this book -- it can help you develop a stable, happy, confident, effective child.

Rating:
Summary: Great resource for parents and teachers!
Review: I got this book originally at the library in a desparate attempt to find a way to reverse the decline in my child's grades. After reading the first 2 chapters, I had to buy the book so I didn't start marking up the library's copy! Not only was my child's behavior very accurately described, but there are concrete ideas of what parents and teachers can do to help reach these children. Tips are highlighted for both groups. Dr. Rimm is also careful to point out that changes are not going to be easy and some of the not so obvious pitfalls one can expect. I have begun making the changes Dr. Rimm suggested including meeting with my child's teachers. The book was outstanding in helping me formulate an outline to present to my child's teachers about what could be done. It went so well that the principal (who was also invited) is now reading my book! I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is frustrated with their child's (or student's) performance in school and are looking for ways they can help as parents or teachers.

Rating:
Summary: This book can change your life
Review: My daughter's first semester in high school was torture for her and for us (her parents) until I discovered this book. There is so much a well-meaning parent can do wrong without knowing it, and this book really helped. Dr. Rimm helps you to first make the correct diagnosis, then suggests steps to change the unhealthy behaviors. I recommend this book to any one of my friends who says, "My son/daughter just isn't getting the grades I know he/she is capable of".

Rating:
Summary: no more excuses
Review: Sylvia gives you concrete strategies for the different types of underachievers.

Rating:
Summary: Not greatly helpful
Review: Sylvia Rimm has some interesting and apt characterizations of underachieving students.

However, we tried many of her techniques -- with a child who is a staunch perfectionist who thinks that all grades less than perfection are the same -- it's all or nothing -- and the techniques did not bring us success.

I would attribute the lack of success to Dr. Rimm's seeming lack of understanding of boys. She doesn't address fully the issues that boys face in competitive academic environments.

Be careful with this book. It promised more than it delivered with us.