SUGGESTIONS FOR BUILDING ASSETS

Asset # 21- Achievement Motivation

(Young people try to do their best in school)

To Build Asset # 21 Parents and Extended Family Can . . .

* Always be learning something yourself, and show your children what it looks like to be committed to learning.

* Talk with your children about how their effort in school now will give them more choices in life later on. Think of real people or characters they know and notice how their past effort or lack of effort affected their life.

* Be supportive and helpful if your child is struggling.

* Help to problem-solve. Don't just assume your child isn't trying hard enough.

* Learn things with them. Turn school projects into activities you can do with your child.

* Celebrate with a special dinner when one of your children accomplishes something special.

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 63% of youth surveyed by Search Institute have this asset in their lives.*

*Based on Search Institute surveys of almost 100,000 6th to 12th grade youth throughout the United States

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Research

Some rather obvious research findings about achievement motivation - the desire to do well in school - are the improved attitudes in students towards school, an increase in higher grades and test scores, as well as a more positive attitude toward schoolwork. Perhaps some findings that aren't as obvious are that students who desire to learn often have better communication skills, improved mental health and lower levels of risk behavior.