Parent Support Modules
The only magic pill to help your child develop the skills for school success is for you to spend time and effort developing them. We offer module packages because children do learn many areas of skills simultaneously, not in isolation. Isolating content into separate areas is only to make understanding it easier. The diagram below attempts to indicate the content interrelationships.
Choosing the Right Modules
Frequently, knowledgeable experts forget there is a gap between theoretical knowledge (non-applied information) and practice (applied information). They tend to "talk at" their audience with theory and information without showing what it looks like in application. Everyone learns best through their experiences. Our Parent Modules blend theoretical information in easily read informational "lessons" with video explanations and demonstrations of applying the information with people.
Parents will not need a big time or energy commitment, as they can easily work with their child in the normal course of their day. The child's age, the level of need, and the number of areas parents choose to work on with their child will determine the duration of efforts, not daily commitments. Both parents and child are learning new skills and patterns. Maximum benefits from most modules can quickly develop from 5-15 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week, in the normal course of parent-child interactions until the child has mastered the targeted skill(s). Successful change comes from consistently (frequently and daily) practicing the skills. While this may sound difficult, it actually takes significantly less time than dealing with misunderstandings, non-compliance with directions, repetitious arguments, inappropriate behaviors, punishments/consequences, chronic frustration and frequent emotional outbursts.
No matter which module(s) you choose, you will see results only when you work consistently with your child. That means the adult(s) in the family must take the time to set up and actively direct situations where there is repetition and practice on the skills you choose to target. Consistency begins with the adult(s) scheduling time before and after work with the child, no matter what else is going on in your lives. Without consistency, there will be little or no change in your child's skills and/or behaviors.
Choosing the modules appropriate to meet the needs of both you and your child may take some thought. Module packages are appropriate to address the needs demonstrated by most students having difficulty in school. The overriding goal of all modules is to open communication lines between parents and their children, between parents and teachers/school personnel, and children and teachers/school personnel. Only with adequate skill acquisition can children achieve in school and, therefore, have job possibilities for supporting themselves and their families when they are adults.
Available Modules
Each module comes on a DVD that contains a PDF information file(s) similar to a workbook and a supporting instructional video. Below are some general descriptions and recommendations for each topic; mouse over the 
on each title to see the goals and objectives for that module. When you are ready to purchase modules, just click on the shopping cart icon at the bottom of the page.
Behavior Management Module Goal:
To improve parents' skills of behavior management and develop alternatives to punishment, abuse and/or neglect.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn the thought processes that differentiate responsible and irresponsible thinking.
2. Parents will learn contingency management techniques to teach and reinforce logical consequences of behavior.
3. Parents will learn the techniques of charting and graphing behaviors for recording and providing feedback of change.
4. Parents will learn reasons to set and adhere to behavioral standards.
5. Parents will learn how their attitudes and discipline affect the child's behaviors for respecting others and property.
6. Parents will learn about disciplinary flexibility as a child grows and matures.
Information in this module will help you manage the behavior of any child without resorting to anger or punishment. Used with preschool children, you can prevent behavior problems as your child grows up. In many homes, adults become easily frustrated with children's behaviors or managing the family life and chores around their own work demands. Children can control adults' behaviors and energies in subtle and not so subtle ways. They can be manipulative, demanding, non-compliant to directions, outwardly defiant toward adults and authority figures, or generally out of control. Most parents find the module lessons helpful to restoring their control of the family.
Choices, Decisions and Problem Solving Module Goal:
To improve parents' awareness of skills children need to make responsible decisions as they solve social or complex problems presented by life situations.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn the difference between a choice and a decision and learn to structure choices for children to learn to make decisions.
2. Parents will learn to identify and use the necessary skills required for complex problems and prioritizing decisions by using situation prompts.
In school we learn academic skills needed for jobs. We don't learn about choices and decisions or how both are part of solving problems. Since adult life requires solving one problem after another in addition to the ones we thought we had already solved, these are critical skills for everyone. Included in this module's lessons are over 100 different scenarios that you can use to help your child how to make wise decisions in his life. This module is recommended for parents working with children 5th grade and older.
Cognitive Development Module Goal:
To improve parents' skills of stimulating children's logical thought processes that are necessary for academic achievement in school.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn to present learning tasks to children in ways appropriate to the children's level of reasoning.
Many types of activities can stimulate children's abilities to manage and manipulate information. If a child struggles with academic content, these lessons can help children develop reasoning skills to support his academics. This module's lessons support oral language development, reading, math and written language skills so children can learn the reasoning skills required for choices, decisions and problem solving.
Language Development Module Goal:
To improve parents' awareness of basic skills and preparation for academic success.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn techniques to foster children's skills in vocabulary, attention, and memory.
2. Parents will learn language development techniques for family or group situations, which can benefit all ages of participants.
3. Parents will learn the language skills necessary for children to learn and perform in reading and mathematics.
This module is recommended for most individuals concerned with their children's academic progress. The lessons are appropriate for preschool through middle school; high school students can benefit, but they may resent working with parents. As children become more proficient in their language skills, their reading comprehension will improve. In turn, so will their academic performance in all content areas. This module is highly recommended for any student receiving any additional services, such as Title I or special education services. See information on language difficulties and cognitive development.
Math Readiness Module Goal:
To provide parents with information that will affect the language and perceptual skills they need to reinforce or teach at home.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn how to teach the basics of size, shape, and equality.
2. Parents will learn the difference between number and numeral and how to teach each in varying situations.
3. Parents will learn the math readiness skills of sets and operations used with sets.
This module is primarily for parents of preschool and primary-aged children. Lower performing elementary aged students may benefit from review of the concepts covered. Focusing attention on these skills can help struggling elementary students understand the current classroom instruction. Parents with children performing above 2nd grade level but still below grade level might consider the Remedial Math lessons.
Motor Skills Module Goal:
To provide parents with skills in developing physical abilities in young children.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn the importance of developing children's balance and reflexes.
2. Parents will learn three ways of developing eye hand coordination skills in children.
3. Parents will learn ways to develop fluid movement patterns in children.
While the module lessons were designed for preschool-aged children, older students may need some instruction. Often children seem awkward and clumsy compared to others their age and these skills can help reduce their physical awkwardness. Children receiving special education services for reading, math, and fine and gross motor skills development may also benefit from these lessons.
Reading Comprehension Module Goal:
To provide parents with understanding of and skills for reading comprehension.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn what context clues are and some techniques to teach context clues to children.
2. Parents will learn what structural clues are and some techniques to teach structural clues to children.
3. Parents will learn what sequencing and inferential clues are and techniques to teach those clues to children.
This module expands the content covered in language development and reading readiness lessons. Any child who has difficulty answering questions about what he has read silently or orally (without relying on pictured content) can benefit from these lessons. See information on reading comprehension.
Reading Readiness Module Goal:
To develop basic skills on which reading comprehension and decoding skills are based.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn activities to develop context clues and sequences of events.
2. Parents will learn activities and methods to assist children in discriminating sounds and letters and building sound-symbol association skills.
Although the content was designed primarily for preschool and primary-aged children, elementary-aged children performing below grade level can benefit from reviewing readiness skills they may have missed. The lessons in this module are appropriate for elementary and low-performing middle school children receiving special education services in reading and written language. See information on reading readiness.
Written Language Module Goal:
To provide parents with supporting activities for basic written language skills.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn the correct way to present spelling sounds to their child.
2. Parents will learn a structured way to reduce the stress of writing lengthy, descriptive essays.
Writing short essays from prompts has become a major portion of states' student assessment process. In some states, passing scores on those assessments is a graduation requirement. Teachers presume students understand many basic skills for writing essays. This module, appropriate for elementary through high school aged students, addresses some of those basic skills.
Remedial Modules: Language Goal:
To provide parents with basic skills in helping to facilitate language development in children who may have language deficits.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn activities to develop children's auditory attention skills.
2. Parents will learn activities to foster children's expressive language skills.
3. Parents will learn activities to foster children's receptive language skills in vocabulary and structure.
4. Parents will learn activities to reduce stress levels caused by language difficulties.
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Math Goal:
To improve children's performance in mathematics by addressing foundational deficits and computational error patterns.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn activities to teach deficits in foundational concepts prerequisite to mathematical operations.
2. Parents will learn activities to support children's performance skills in basic mathematical operations.
3. Parents will learn how to help children learn to understand and perform word problems.
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Reading Goal:
To provide parents with supporting activities for basic reading and comprehension.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn activities to support basic decoding skills development in children.
2. Parents will learn activities to develop oral and silent reading comprehension skills.
3. Parents will learn activities to develop understanding of cause and effect and sequence of events in stories.
4. Parents will learn activities to develop understanding the main idea and details in stories.
5. Parents will learn activities to develop comprehension skills needed for science and social studies classes.
6. Parents will learn activities to develop reading and writing skills required in English classes.
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Written Language Goal:
To provide parents with supporting activities for basic reading and comprehension.
Objectives:
1. Parents will learn how to help their child with handwriting.
2. Parents will learn how to recognize specific error patterns in their child's spelling.
3. Parents will learn how to present spelling words according to syllabication, word parts, or rhyming words for easier spelling.
4. Parents will learn the "rules" for writing good paragraphs.
5. Parents will learn how to help their child write the four types of essays required in school.
Parents of students receiving special education services or those continuing to struggle after other interventions may want to consider these modules. The lessons approach cognitive development, reading readiness, reading comprehension, math readiness and written language differently. These lessons provide tips on helping children improve their spelling skills and written stories required in school and add additional support to oral language development. They are designed for elementary and middle school aged children. High school students usually avoid working with parents in this content area. Understanding everything covered in the instructional video is critical to implementing these lessons.
Click here to listen to recordings of Dr. Jennifer Little discussing related education topics.
