Have You Heard About K12? {Giveaway!!!}
As most of you know, I am a teacher by trade, although I am not currently teaching so that I can stay home with my two precious little men. And since I am a teacher, the question comes up all. the. time!!
“Are you going to homeschool your kids?”
And to be honest, I don’t know. I personally don’t think I will. But as the time gets closer, I may change my mind. Evan is a little bit *too much* like me and I think we would spend our days butting heads 
!! A little tidbit that most of you don’t know, Jeremy was homeschooled for many years! His mom did an AMAZING job, and I’m not just saying that because she reads my blog – ha ha! And many of my friends have decided to homeschool their children. Only time will tell.
So when I was contacted by K12, to be honest, I hadn’t heard of them. But to my defense, I am not in that stage of life yet with my boys. So I did the next best thing, I asked my friends who are homeschooling or looking into homeschooling. All of them know of K12 and some of them are using K12 this year for their homeschooling needs. And after scouring K12’s website, it doesn’t look as hard as I thought it would be!
My friend Becky, did me a huge favor and wrote some thoughts down for me on why she chose K12:
When my husband and I decided we were being led to homeschool our children I began to ask *read interrogate* my friends who were homeschooling. I had specific things I was looking for in a homeschooling program and K12 seemed to best fit those requirements. First of all, I am not a trained teacher. While I developed my own Pre-K curriculum by collecting various materials and reading a boat load of information about what your Preschooler should know, I was looking for a much more structured approach to Kindergarten. The K12 program offers me checks and balances. There is a 24 hour technical support number. K12 is a mastery based curriculum, which means once he truly gets it we can move on so he doesn’t get bored or burned out. The curriculum is fantastic. The program offers a lot of hands on worksheet experience for the kids, but it also allows for the child to work online in the online school “OLS”. He feels like he is playing games, little does he know he is still doing schoolwork. My main goal in homeschooling our kids is to give our children a great education while following the calling God has placed on my heart. K12 is helping to make that possible.
As a teacher, I believe children learn in many, many different ways. And speaking as a teacher, not every teacher can use the same curriculum. We all have different teaching styles. Thats’ the beauty of K12. It is structured for those of us who need the guidance *ahem* but you can individualize it to yours and your child’s needs! Love it!!!
Here is a little bit of info about K12:
OHVA is a tuition-free public school that uses the award-winning K¹² curriculum , which is accessed via an Online School (OLS) as well as through more traditional methods. Materials are delivered right to your doorstep—including everything from books and CDs to even bags of rocks and dirt for your child’s science experiment.
OHVA:
· Support from Ohio-licensed teachers
· An active, supportive school community
· Robust opportunities for the advanced learner
· Books, materials and loaner computer system
· World languages for grades 3-12
· Academic enrichment opportunities like spelling bees and science fairs
· Accreditation by CITA and NCA CASI
· Learn a little more about OHVA hereVisit K12.com/OH for full enrollment details and a complete list of upcoming events in your area.
Connect with K12:
Meet parents enrolled in K12 on Facebook:
Join the conversation about education on Twitter:
Find out what K12 teachers and employees are passionate about on the K12 Blog:
So here’s the fun part! To help get the word out about K12. I get to do a giveaway for a family 4-pack of tickets to one of my very favorite places to take kids! COSI, in Columbus, Ohio (and no you don’t have to be a homeschooling parent to win)!! I love this giveaway idea, because I am so about making every excursion a learning experience, whether you homeschool your children or not (my poor kids – ha!). Kids need to get in there and experience life through as many channels as possible. COSI is an amazing, dynamic hands on science museum!
And since I am feeling generous, I am giving you many ways to win these tickets because you know I am a teacher and all!
Mandatory entry (You must do this one to be entered in the giveaway):
- Head over to K12, browse around, then come back here and tell one thing that you learned about K12. OR if you already use K12, leave a comment of something that you love about it!
Extra entries:
- Go “Like” K12 on Facebook. Then come back here and tell me that you did in a separate comment.
- Post this giveaway on your Facebook page. Then come back here and let me know in a separate comment
- Follow K12 on Twitter. Then come back here and tell me that you did in a separate comment.
- Tweet about this contest on twitter with a link back to this post, then leave a separate comment with your tweet URL.
- Follow me on Twitter . Then come back here and tell me that you did in a separate comment.
- Subscribe to my blog feed via RSS or email and leave a comment letting me know you did or already do.
This giveaway will end, Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 at 9:00 pm EST. I will choose a winner using Random.org.
*Disclosure: For my involvement in this campaign, I received 4 tickets to Great Lakes Science Center. But if I didn’t think K12 was good enough to write a post about, I wouldn’t have done it, you know?
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Ask the Teacher Tuesday: Scaffolding
It has been a long time since being in school and learning all the educational lingo. There is a term called “scaffolding” that educators use. It pretty much means meeting a child where they are at and then just pushing them a little further, just like an actual scaffold.
I have always said jokingly that every thing you need to know you learn in fifth grade. Being a fifth grade teacher taught me a lot of things, which I am now passing to my kids.
So here are a few things that I have noticed teaching the boys recently:
Growing plants opens up a wide variety of teachable moments – for younger and older preschoolers. Here we planted sunflower seeds that their Babci got them for Easter. Evan planted both his and Carter’s since Carter isn’t quite old enough to understand what is going on. Did you know that when a plant “sprouts” the scientific term is “germinate”. So when Evan was excited that his sunflower “sprouted” I knew he understood that concept, so I mentioned to him that that is also called “germinated”. So we practiced a new word. Has he used that new word yet? Nope! But I nestled it in that sponge of his.
Also, once the plants started to grow, we have been talking about what plants need to grow (sun, water, air) and what kids need to grow. These aren’t very in depth discussions, just quickies when Evan checks his plants every morning.
And just for the fun of it, I have done an experiment with Evan, that he actually hasn’t noticed yet and may not but it’s still fun to try. Phototropism – or the way a plant leans toward the sun. So every morning I show Evan how the plants are leaning and then I rotate the plants and by the afternoon the plants are again leaning toward the sun. It goes right over his head, but it’s still cool to watch 
!
Geometric shapes: Evan has mastered all the basic shapes. So recently, 
I have been throwing out new terms. Yes, I was a fifth grade math teacher for many years so the terms comes easy to me but you can pretty much google math shapes and come up with some decent references.
Evan was checking out a diamond the other day and I mentioned to him that there was another name that he could use “called a rhombus”. He thought that was pretty cool, unfortunately, he doesn’t understand that not all words have many other terms . So now, every time we are looking at shapes, he asks if there are other “funny” names. So we have been practicing “rhombus”, “parallelogram”, “quadrilateral” etc. I don’t exactly “teach” him what each one is, we just play the game of “how many names each shape has.” And Evan just likes to hear the big words!!
Moon Phases: I know I mentioned this last week, but Evan and Carter both love finding the moon in the night sky (and sometimes in the day sky). We practice the names of the different moons. Evan loves to find the “crescent” moons, just because he knows the shape “crescent”
He has asked my “why does the moon change shape?” I try to explain to him about the sun and the shadows as “dumbed down” as possible but he still doesn’t get it. It doesn’t really discourage him though, surprisingly. And fortunately for me he hasn’t done the “why” routine with it because sometimes those “why conversations” can go on and on and on. He just asks again at a different time and again I try to explain it.
Jeremy likes to throw around graphic design and typography terms at the boys, which is pretty funny to listen to. But you never know what the boys will pick up?!
Now it’s your turn. In what ways are your scaffolding and may not have even known it?
Ask the Teacher: Teachable Moments
I don’t sit down with the boys and actually “teach” them. At these ages there is so much to explore and observe around them that I don’t feel the need to actually “teach” them. But I do take advantage of most teachable moments. I try to make these moments as natural as possible. Just allowing the teaching to flow into the conversation so they (especially Evan) won’t stop what they’re doing but continue and hopefully learn something out of it. I have become a master at disguising learning because Evan is going through a stage right now that if he knows that I am trying to teach him something, he will automatically start being goofy and I will loose that teaching moment.
Here are a few examples of what I am talking about.
- When going on walks, we talk about what we hear and smell. What we touch and feel. This is a great opportunity to use as many adjectives as you can think of. Allow them to explain to you what they see. As they mature their explanations will get more in depth based on how much you can explain to them. If they notice a new flower, they might say, “Look there is a flower.” You could agree with them and move on, which sometimes is much easier to a brain-fried mom, but use this opportunity to smell the flower, discuss the color of the flower, the shape of the flower and have them touch the flower and use adjectives to explain these characteristics.
Point out geometric shapes. As I have posted before, we go on shape walks and take pictures of different shapes we see around us. But even when we go on regular walks, I always try to point out a few shapes. Such as, Carter likes to fine the sewer access holes and stand on them. I point out to him that he is standing on a circle. He has picked up on the game pretty quickly and now can point out any circle that he sees. He is becoming more and more observant, sometimes seeing things that I don’t see. He knows the names of circles and squares but can point out triangles, rectangles and diamonds. Evan, though not as observant by nature, will point out an occasional rectangle or diamond. He likes to point out that the sewers are rectangle. He was playing with a dice the other day and noticed that one side not only was a square but if you tilt it, it becomes a diamond.
- Making eating time, learning time. After Carter was sick, the only thing
he would eat for a few days were Fruit Loops – don’t judge – so we would use those fruit loops to make piles of the same colors, we would count them, we would play “let’s eat the blue one” game. Who knew Fruit loops could be so educational- ha ha.
- Carter and Evan (Carter more) love finding the moon at night. Evan started noticing that the moon changes over time and asked why. Since I did teach moon phases in 5th grade for many years, it just came naturally to explain to him why. So every night we would go out and check to see if the moon was getting bigger or smaller and we would name what time of moon it was (waxing, waning, gibbous, crescent). Do I expect him to start naming them right away? No. But those names are now logged in that brain of his and when the time comes he will remember it.
- Snack time around our house has become a wonderful teaching time. We play all kinds of games. As an example, Evan has started lining up his snack and playing the “take away” game. Here he is playing what we do. A concrete model is the first step of learning. The next step is to be able to “visualize” what is going on. He did this today. Carter had two crackers left and he said, “Hey Carter, you have 2 and when you eat one you will have one left and then if you eat the last one you will have none left.” So he was able to visualize what we had been practicing with the concrete manipulative.
Kids will learn the most during these teachable moments. Because they are already engaged and interested in the subject. So use this time to just plant little seeds of learning in them. They don’t even need to know that you are teaching them.
It’s your turn. What teachable moments have you taken advantage of recently?
Happy Birthday to You! Dr. Seuss
This week’s Ask the Teacher Tuesday is to celebrate Dr. Seuss. How appropriate that his birthday falls on a Tuesday this year!
I love Dr. Seuss and my boys do too! We have many of his board books but some of our favorites include, The Foot Book (which is personally one of my faves), Dr. Seuss’s ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book! (which is Carter’s favorite right now), Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?, and The Tooth Book, besides many others!
Thank you Dr. Seuss for creating books that children adore, especially my boys! Although I now have most of the books memorized, my boys love to hear the stories of Dr. Seuss over and over again!
So now it’s your turn? What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book? What are your kid’s favorites?
Ask the Teacher: He Asked and They Answered
I am so excited for today’s Guest Post from Paul at Redneck Latte. He is one funny guy and if you have never read him before, I encourage you to go grab a coffee and stop on over and get a few laughs. But today, he is stepping away from the funny and discussing another part of his life: Education. I approached Paul about guest posting because he has a very special job with some very special kids. What I love about this post, he asked a question to some of the teachers he works with and they gave him some very candid answers! Check it out!
Ever have ‘that conversation’? You know, the one where your dreams are talking for you.
- If I won the Lottery, I’d…
- If I had no worries at all, I’d…
- If I could do anything at all, I’d…
- If I could just have one thing, I’d…
We all do, and we all have it often. But, are you really ready for the answer?
Well, I asked, and they told, so here goes.
A little about me, really one of my favorite topics and all; I’m not a teacher. I’m a sub. I’ve been a student helper, and I’ve been a Stellar Sub, but I’m a sub. Now, I can teach, and in the eight years I’ve been working at a High School, I’ve learned more than I’ve taught.
I’ve learned from some of the most professional, dedicated people I know. Teachers spend a lot of money to get and to stay in their chosen profession. And that’s truly what it is, a profession. I’m proud to be a just a small part of it.
So, when Cortney asked me to weigh in on “Ask The Teacher Tuesday”, I thought, what the heck, I’ll ask my very special group of Special Education teachers and friends…maybe they’ll tell.
And they did.
I posed the question:
If any parent asked: “What can I do to make your job better? What would you say?
Here’s what I got.
From a Resource Teacher:
Right now, I wish parents would support political and budget decisions that promote learning. Parents don’t take action until there is a direct impact on their children. I get that, but many of the decisions being made today WILL affect their children tomorrow. People (politicians, parents) talk about the importance of education but don’t support best learning practices with their votes or their money. I also think parents should think twice before attacking a teacher. Teachers are villainized by our media and end up being the scapegoat in many situations that are beyond our control. And one more thing…I’m tired of hearing people rationalizing teacher pay because of summer break. Do the math…prorate the number of days we work and account for years of experience, education, and normal vacation time…is that how much a good teacher is worth?
From a Teacher of Self Contained Mildly Autistic Children:
I would tell them to contact their state representatives about supporting legislation that benefits teachers and education in general. Such as: not furloughing teachers*, allowing teachers to continue to receive base pay increases for continuing education and degrees. I think it’s also important for those who are financially able to support HHH** and send in different supplies, like hand sanitizer, tissues, cleaning wipes, and different office supplies.
From a Resource Math and Science Teacher:
Help your child to become more responsible for themselves. Help them to bring all materials and assignments to school, work with them at home on organization to help with maintaining all that is needed for school.
From a Resource and Collaborative Language Arts Teacher (who I’ll admit is a little spoiled):
I would love a new computer. I also would like for parents to be faster at signing and returning any paperwork that I send home. (Just a note, one of my students told me the other day that he saw the “teacher computers” on e-bay for $20.00!)
From Collaborative Physics Teacher and one of our State Championship Baseball Coaches:
Provide extra funding to have someone take care of paperwork.
From Resource Math Teacher, whom we call “One Child Left Behind, because he did!!
Make IEP’s illegal.
From one of our Parapros:
Think to instill in their kids to be respectful to all adults…we so lack that in our young people. They don’t have to like us, just respect us for our years of service to this world!!
From a Vocational Preparation Program Teacher:
Home School your child (ha ha). Write your representatives! Have more tech. programs for our kids. And it takes more than 1 parent to do this.
From a Collaborative Social Studies Teacher -
Teach your children good manners and a strong work ethic, and pass it on.
From one of our Speech Therapists:
Oh you got me thinking now, I guess I’d say send us a child who respects others and has curiosity about the world.
So, It boils down to this:
Don’t ask the teacher to do it all. Get involved: Contact State and Local Leaders and make yourself heard. Take responsibility as a parent to make your child understand that it’s his education, and he has to get it. And while he’s there – behave!
*The Governor of Georgia decided that all county employees would be furloughed for six days this year without pay…it’s not been a real morale booster!
*HHH=Helping Hand and Hearts, a very successful Benevolence program at our school
Paul Brads, aka Redneck Latte is a Retired Phone Guy who spent 30 years with “The Phone Company” through all it’s name changes, and retired in 2001. Since he got very bored, he then went to teachin’ the youngins at a high school where he still works on a part time basis. Paul’s focus is Special Education, although he is not certified in Special Ed.
He’s a collector, reader, writer, teacher, husband, father, and blogger, who loves the sound of his own voice on paper!
A native of Virginia, Paul is an Expatriate living in Georgia.
Ask the Teacher Tuesday – Questions I have been contemplating
Today’s post isn’t necessarily discussing a single topic about education. It actually deals with some of the things that I have been dealing with as a mom who happens to be a teacher.
I am analytical by nature. I love math and I love data. I guess I am kinda weird like that. I love research. Give me a good case study with data and I will eat it up.
Now before I continue, I am not trying to be controversial in ANY way and if you ask those closest to me, they will tell you that I HATE controversy, period. So I am not writing this to get in a debate with anyone, I am just stating some things that I WOULD love to study some day and see some good raw data on the topics.
There are several topics that one day I would love to study. And I say one day, because these topics that I am interested in, I believe, may not have real statistical information for many years to come. I am only writing about two today.
Topic #1: The first topic that really interests me is the topic of technology and the implications of when/how we use it with our children. I know that we will never go backward in the use of technology, as a parent I have drug my feet when it comes to introducing it to Evan, particularly computers. I finally broke down and bought Evan a computer game for his 3rd birthday.
As a teacher, I have seen the negative implications of too much use of technology in this generation of kids. Students now a days “need” to be entertained in the classroom. If what is being taught in the classroom, doesn’t have fast moving graphics, bells, whistles, interaction, music etc., students aren’t interested. The attention span of students seemed to decrease each year I taught. Do I believe this has to do with the ever increasing use of technology amongst our students? Yes, in some part, but not fully responsible!
Just by talking to the students, you begin to realize just how much time is spent in front of the computer, along with time spent in front of the television playing video games.
How much is too much? I am not anti-technology (geeze, I own a blog for goodness sake and Evan is proficient on the iPhone). But I do believe that technology is not the answer to everything, all the time. School districts are paying millions of dollars to implement software (study games) for studying for the achievement tests, teachers are encouraged to have websites with study information, teachers are also bombarded with games and interactive websites to share with their students on projection screens. When and how is this too much?
Going back to my introduction, someday in the future, I would love to see hard core, unbiased data on how technology has increased or decreased intelligence. Are kids smarter then they were ten years ago? Are IQs increasing or decreasing? Are students losing their common sense and trading it in for better test scores?
As a parent, with a teaching background, I would love to know how much is too much? And how much is needed to just keep your kids up with the ever-changing technology?
Topic #2: How the bombardment of parenting books – in particular baby rearing practices – have long term implications on children. I’ve read the books, I know the arguments. I chose what, I felt, was best for my children. What is interesting to me as I read the books and articles, were the arguments that were given against other methods. Both sides have somewhat valid arguments, but neither have any hard-core mathematical studies to support their claims.
I just think this whole phenomenon is intriguing. What did parents, especially mothers, do before “the experts” wrote books. Oh yeah, they relied on their mothers for advice and relied on their God-given instincts on what was best for their children. I find it almost humorous that first time mothers run to their books for advice, stress about not being able to find a written answer to a question. Don’t get me wrong, I am not judging or making fun of any one. Besides, to an extent I was that mom (with Evan), running to the “experts” who obviously know everything, so they obviously know how I should handle Evan. With Carter, I was much more carefree and just allowed myself to love Carter, not worrying about what the “experts” had to say. Besides who knows my boys best – me! I still, will on occasion, read up on child rearing practices. Obviously I am NOT saying that I know it all, I will always listen to advice from my parents and of experts. But I don’t necessarily follow ONE particular source to the tee and do exactly what one person says to do. That just doesn’t make sense to me.
Basically, there are some startling and discouraging “statistics” given in some of the best selling parenting books, if you don’t follow their guidelines. (No wonder why moms are so stressed!) I would just love to see how these children turn out in the long run. Are these claims, ones that should be taken seriously, or are these people quacks who have impacted a whole generation of moms. I don’t know, but I would love to see some mathematical and scientific studies about it one day.
So now it’s your turn. If you have come across some great case studies and would like to share them with me, please share. Remember I love the data, not just merely opinions.
Are there any issues or topics that you have really been interested in since becoming a mother?
Ask the Teacher Tuesday – Preschool Math and Art project
This week I am making a mobile with the boys. Obviously Evan is making his own and I am “helping” Carter with his. This is what we are doing:
- I cut out geometric shapes out of foam board with an x-acto knife (a triangle, rectangle, square, hexagon and circle)
- The boys are painting each shape. This is a great opportunity to show the boys how to mix the paints to create new colors. Actually Evan remembers the different color mixtures from previous crafts, but it never hurts to review and this is Carter’s first exposure to it!
- Once the paint is dried on all the shapes, the boys will be decorating the painted shapes with various stickers, glitter glue, pom poms etc.
- I will then write the name of each shape on each individual shape with a Sharpie.
- Allow each shape to dry thoroughly.
- I will then punch holes in each shape and tie together with string. This will also be a great practice for Evan to string the yarn through the holes (fine motor skills). And hang the mobiles in their rooms.
Evan is super excited about this project. Carter LOVED practicing the different colors! Due to running out of time today we only finished the triangles so no pictures yet. I will post pictures next Tuesday!
I may try this craft later in the winter time but using letters instead of numbers, so that Evan can practice his letter recognition – which he needs.
Ask the Teacher – Teacher Gifts
I admit it! I am recycling an old post that is definitely needed this time of year! What do you get your kid’s teacher for Christmas?
Obviously it is the thought that counts. Please don’t think that us teachers are ungrateful, but if you are going to spend the money anyway, why not give that special teacher some thing that she/he will enjoy and use!
photo credit: Atsibusk su Vyteniu3 on Flickr
Here is the original post from Ask the Teacher Tuesday: A New Reading Strategy and Gift-Giving!:
I LOVE talking gifts and this actually is a fun one for me, because during the holidays and birthdays, us teachers would joke about our gifts. DON’T get me wrong, we definitely appreciate the kindness and thoughtfulness of the students and parents, but sometimes we wished we could do a “wish list” for parents to see. My teaching partner and myself actually starting joking with the kids early on in the school year of what we wanted for Christmas, in hopes to score some great gifts.
A few thoughtful and useful gifts:
- Gift Cards! I think this one is probably on the top of any teacher’s wish list. Gift cards could be for restaurants, retail stores or even salons. The beauty of it is, we teachers know that it is more the thought then the price tag!! We would be tickled pink to get a $5 gift card to Bob Evans, Starbucks or Bath and Body Works. If you can afford more, feel free to indulge your teacher in a larger amount. But DON’T feel bad if $5 is all you can afford. We understand and truly appreciate just being remembered during the holidays. It truly is the thought that counts
- Find an interest that you know your child’s teacher is into. I can think of 3 all-time favorite gifts that I received. And none of them were expensive or extravagant! The first being a University of Michigan bell. It was a small, porcelain bell that I could use in my classroom but also after the school year was over, I could place it on my sports wall at home. Believe it or not, that was the only University of Michigan gift I received in 7 years of teaching {insert jokes here…I know many of you OSU fans will jump on that one}. The second was a bag of bird seed. You may think that that is an odd gift to give a teacher, but this particular student knew how much I loved watching birds and that I had many bird feeders in my yard. What was even more thoughtful, he knew how much I enjoyed Cardinals in the middle of winter time, so he made sure it was black oil sunflower seeds – Cardinals favorite seed. To be honest, I almost cried after opening that gift because it showed me that the student really picked up on that particular interest of mine during the school year. The third gift was actually gifts for my kids. This particular student of mine was extremely into sports. It was phenomenal the information he could give me about “who did what, in what year etc” so know how much my Evan is into sports, he got Evan a Nerf Set of balls (the one with a basketball, a football and a basketball) and got Carter a book on sports. I also got a very generous gift card, but it was more thoughtful that the parents though of my kids too.
Now that I have given you a few things that are wonderful to receive as gifts, a few items that we tend to get A LOT of:
- Coffee mugs. I don’t know really why parents think we drink a lot of coffee or something – LOL but I got on average 5 coffee mugs a year. I do love my coffee, but unfortunately I don’t have room for 35 extra mugs in my kitchen. Instead, buy them a nice bag of coffee (i.e. Starbucks, Caribou etc)
- Candles. I love Yankee Candles but I don’t use up that many during the year. A possible alternative is the Bath and Body Works Wall Flowers and a set of refills.
- Lotions. I got a lot of lotions. And this one is border line because I love to small pretty but I actually have an allergy to many of the scented lotions, so many times I had to re-gift those. If you want to get lotion, get them a gift card instead to some place like Bath and Body so that they can pick out something that they will get to use. But one thing that I never got tired of was getting hand lotions, because teachers are always washing their hands and my hands will crack during the winter months. So the mini hand lotions were perfect for putting on my desk and using at school.
Hopefully those suggestions help!
*Update: Another great idea that my good friend Jenny did for her son’s teacher, was a necklace. What woman/teacher wouldn’t love to get a beautiful handcrafted piece of jewelry. And it doesn’t have to be expensive either. I’m not quite sure where Jenny ordered her piece from but there are many Etsy jewelers that do a variety of handcrafted personalized pieces. Go check them out. I just bought a few personalized pieces (can’t say what they are or who they are for since it’s for Christmas, but I just fell in love with what I found and can’t wait to get them in the mail this week! And I will definitely post about them after Christmas so you can see what I got ). I also put these two (one or two and a few others that were similar) one on my wish list for Jeremy to get.
So this week tell me what special, creative gifts have you given or planning on giving your child’s teachers?
If you have questions or concerns, not related to this post that you would like to bounce off me, you can leave a comment here or contact me.
For a complete list of “Ask the Teacher” posts, click HERE
Ask the Teacher – Thanksgiving (Monday) Edition
What? Ask the Teacher is not supposed to be on Monday? I know, I know. I have thrown all of you for a loop! I apologize, but it occurred to me this weekend (after being sick and dealing with 2 sick boys last week) that my topic is on Thanksgiving and showing “Thanks” and most students are out of school starting on Wednesday. So that would mean this post would be useless. Did you catch all of that?
Anyway, today’s post is pretty simple? When you think of how your child’s school year is going so far, what are you thankful for? Does you daughter finally understand fractions? Or your son finally enjoys gym class? Does you daughter enjoy Music class for the first time since she started school? Does your son speak have a new interest in writing short stories because his English teacher is inspirational? There are probably many things that have been positive so far this year.
Why not write a Thank You note to a special teacher to show your appreciation on Thanksgiving? Or better yet, have your child decorate a “thank you” card and write a few sentences detailing one positive that he/she has had.
Let me just give you a little tidbit about teachers. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone I have told you this. Right about now, students aren’t the only ones that need a 5 day break! For most teachers, this is their first “real” break of the school year that doesn’t have work strings attached. They are worn down just as much as the students are or possibly even more. Right about now, the stress of State achievement tests, is starting to knock on their classroom doors, students are beginning to show their true colors, cold and flu season has started, in many areas cold weather has sunk in which means more indoor time (and less time to work off the excess energy of busy kids which begins to become evident in behaviors inside the classroom), the antsy-ness of the holidays and the list goes on and on.
How nice it would be for your child’s favorite teacher to receive a little note of appreciation on Tuesday before leaving on Holiday Break. Just a suggestion. But if there is a special teacher in your child’s life, right now would be a great time to show them your Thankfulness!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I will see you next week!
If you have questions or concerns, not related to this post that you would like to bounce off me, you can leave a comment HERE or contact me.
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Ask the Teacher November 17
I am taking a sick day today! With both boys sick and myself dealing with this virus, I decided I am taking the day off. If you are new to Ask the Teacher you can check out some of my latest Ask the Teacher posts HERE. If you’re a regular, thanks for stopping by and come back next week, when hopefully my household will have kicked this nasty bug and I will be back to my normal routine.
Remember you can always ask a question in the comments section or email me your question.
Ask the Teacher: National Young Readers Day
Today is National Young Readers Day. It is “set aside as a special day to recognize the joys and benefits of reading”. It is celebrated in schools across the country but it begins at home with you! As mentioned in yesterday’s post, as a teacher who is now a mom, I make mandatory D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) times of at least 30 minutes a day with my boys! It is such an easy thing we can do that will benefit our kids throughout their lives!
Your homework this week is to write some reading goals for you and your kids. If you already read with them daily, that is awesome, keep up the great work! If not, think about ways you can incorporate more reading into your schedules, maybe a quickie after naptime or family read-ins every evening before bed. Get creative, your kids (and their future teachers ) will thank you one day! Once you set some goals, drop me a comment and share them with me, I would love to hear what you come up with!
And just for fun, hop on over to yesterday’s post and join the link up. It will be open until Sunday night!
If you have questions or concerns, not related to this post that you would like to bounce off me, you can leave a comment HERE or contact me.
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Ask the Teacher Tuesday – A Fun Math Activity
This is one of my Evan and Carter’s favorite books! Evan and I read it non-stop before Carter came into our lives. I read it to Evan because of the math (after all I was a math teacher-geeze) but Carter just absolutely LOVES this book, and I didn’t really make a big deal over it with him as I did with Evan. It has become a mandatory read every day. When I read it to Carter, I usually trace around each shape with my finger, while I am reading. As of the last week or so, he has started to do the same thing with his finger as I read. *Side note – we pulled into Target the other day and when he saw the sign he said two things: “Target” and “circle”. So it is never too early to start basic math skills!
I mentioned awhile ago, that Evan has become obsessed with “taking pictures”. He will either follow me around with our old 35mm camera or with our (now deceased) digital camera – he didn’t break it, I did – and take pictures of things that he finds interesting. This whole scenario reminded me of an activity I did with my 5th graders that I have now started to do with Evan.
It is very difficult for young children to connect mathematics with the natural world around them. This activity connects geometry with everyday surroundings. When I take the boys on walks, I let Evan take the camera, I suggest finding something during our walk in the form a any given shape. Because of his age, I focus on just one shape. Circles are the easiest to start with because they seem to be everywhere in nature.
When he finds that shape, he will take a picture of it! Now granted most of the pictures he takes are out of focus, so I usually have to discreetly take the camera and take a picture of what he just took a picture of, so that we can look at them when we get home.
Not only is this a fun activity for a child to do, but it shows Evan that math IS everywhere and it is a great review of geometrical principles.
If your child is older and has mastered the 2-dimensional shapes, there are more geometrical concepts that can be used, such as (but not limited too):
- 3-dimensional shapes
- angles (right, obtuse, acute, straight)
- Similarity
- symmetry
- congruence
- lines – parallel and perpendicular
Here are a few pics of shapes he took recently. More to come when he masters the art of focus and I buy him a camera that I won’t mind him carrying around !
circle cakes in the oven
"Monkey Brains"
Now it’s your turn! Are there any fun math activities you do with you preschoolers? I would LOVE to hear what you have tried!
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Non-Fiction Reading: Getting Started Early
Toddlers and Preschoolers have a thirst to learn as much as they can. They are born with a natural desire to understand the world around them. Why not use this time to foster non-fiction reading skills?
The boys and I go to the library at least twice a month. The first several trips were just to get acquainted with the library, allowing the boys to explore. But one particular trip changed the way I approached my strategy with teaching reading to my children.
If you follow this blog or know me personally, you are aware of the fact that Evan LOVES sports. I think you can technically say he is obsessed with not just a sport but ALL sports. We were getting reading for a visit to the library when Evan starting talking about baseball, and it was like you saw the lightbulb go off.
“Mommy, does the library have books on baseball?”
I enthusiastically replied to him that, yes the library has baseball books, and we should ask the librarian where those books are. It was absolutely adorable the scene that played out at the library. As soon as the doors opened (Evan likes to “open” the doors for me by pushing the handicapped button), he ran to the information desk and asked the librarian as politely as I have ever seen him,
“Excuse me, do you have books on baseballs?”
The librarian looked at me slightly dumbfounded and immediately replied to Evan that they certainly did have baseball books. She then asked him what type of books he was looking for, then glanced up at me with a quizzical look on her face. I mouthed to her that it didn’t matter what type of baseball books to lead him too (she was concerned that the books they had were too advanced for him). I knew it didn’t matter, he would just be too excited to see books with pictures of baseballs in them.
Well, when she led us to the sports section, you could almost see the skies open up and hear the angels sing. Evan was in heaven.
“Mommy, look!!! Baseball books, oh oh and basketball books, and football books and tennis books and volleyball books.”
He looked at the librarian with eyes wide open and a big toothy grin, “Thank you!!”
So that day we ended up bringing home the six books in the above picture. While checking the books out, the lady behind us smirked, “I wonder what his interests are!”
The amazing thing was, that even though the books we brought home from the library were for older elementary students, Evan would sit and listen to Jeremy read those books to him over and over again. Jeremy would read then explain, and read and explain some more. Finding what your toddlers and preschoolers interests are is the first key element in teaching successful non-fiction reading skills. If you can teach solid reading skills early on with what your child’s interests are, then mandatory non-fiction reading in school will be an easy transition for your child.
Here are some useful tips and strategies to try with your children when reading a non-fiction book. Allow the questioning to come effortlessly, non scripted and smoothly. You don’t need to have these questions rehearsed. Remember you are modeling to your children. Allow them to watch how you approach it.
1. Allow your children to verbalize what they already “know” about the topic before you read the book, by asking them probing questions on what they already know about the topic. You are not looking for correct assumptions.
Just allow your child to talk the topic at hand. Evan is completely in to pumas right now, so the first time we picked up the puma book, I just asked him to tell me what he liked about pumas. He mentioned he liked how big they were and the loud roar they make. We learned later on in the book that pumas don’t roar. So it doesn’t matter whether their assumptions are correct or not. Most preschoolers want to read the same book over and over again. You don’t neccessarly need to have them repeat this step every single time.
2. Preview the text. Allow your child to look at the pictures on the cover and inside the book, read key words to them, read titles to them. Explain/ review those key words. Many of the key words in non-fiction are new vocabulary words that need to be explained. When they are old enough to read, they will read the key words and titles themselves. This peaks their interests and actively engages your child into the book.
3. Review what your child learned after you are finished with the book. This doesn’t have to be an oral quiz, a list of questions and answers. Allow it to be organic! You can start this conversation by saying something like, “wow, I didn’t know pumas didn’t roar, what did you learn from what we read?” Children at this age will want to tell you all kinds of new information. Just let it roll!
4. Review the topic later. I always like to bring up a topic at dinner time to let Evan tell Jeremy what he learned in one of his books that day. This is a great time for sharing for your preschooler. They feel actively involved and important in the dinner conversation. This also allows for the information to become permanent in their memory, by repeating what they read. Sometimes just to throw a curve ball, Jeremy or I will give a wrong fact, just to see if Evan is paying attention and corrects us. It’s a fun game to play!
5. Use new vocabulary, as much as possible, in other various conversations and topics. This will reinforce what your child previously read! And before long you will notice them using those words in their conversations with you and others.
Now it’s your turn! What topics are your preschoolers / toddlers completely obsessed with lately? Have you used those obsessions for some great learning opportunities. I want to hear from you, let me know by leaving a comment!!
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Tips for a Successful Science Fair Project
This week’s post is written by Corinna from Down to Earth Mama. If you have or know someone who has a Jr. Higher and/or High Schooler, this is a MUST READ!!
The science fair project. Few things are as simultaneously frustrating and exhilarating for the parent, student, and dare I say, teacher. However, science fair projects are one of the best hands-on learning experiences a child can have. The students become real scientists. They develop higher level thinking skills. They become problem solvers. Finally, science fair projects require writing across the curriculum.
They also require creativity and patience. Here are a few tips to help you and your child have a successful, stress free science fair.
- Help your child choose a topic of interest and one that will challenge him/her. The point is not to rehash topics your child already knows, but to stretch their intellect and learn something new.
- Choose a topic that can be tested. Even though research science fair projects can be very interesting and informative, the best science fair projects put the student in the role of scientists. They are able to see the process at work and become true problem solvers.
- Start the process a few weeks in advance of the due date. Run several trials. Run the trials concurrently if the project you selected requires weeks of observations (i.e. experiments that involve growing plants).
- Identify the control, the independent variable, and the dependent variable. The control is the part of the experiment that produces a normal result. For example, if you are experimenting on what to do in order to make a banana stay fresh longer, the control would be a banana that simply sits on your kitchen counter. The independent variable is the variable that the student changes in the experiment. The dependent variable is what changes when the dependent variable changes.
- Record observations in a journal at all times. Leave room for calculations that need to be completed as part of the analysis.
- Do not do the project for your child or suggest that the data is wrong based on your knowledge. This is a learning process for your child. Many scientists do not prove their initial hypothesis. Data that is collected should be written down regardless if it makes sense or not. Do not try to fudge the data or mold it to fit the initial hypothesis. Do not change the initial hypothesis. If the results do not make sense, ask your child what might have gone wrong. This helps to develop higher level thinking skills. Encourage your child to repeat the experiment if you think it is necessary.
- Make sure that your child knows what the results mean. The purpose of the experiment is to develop the student’s analysis and evaluation skills. Ask leading questions to help the student along, but do not tell the student what the findings mean. The student will learn and retain more if they can answer themselves.
- Finally, research the background as much as possible. Start with the easy concepts and work up. The more the student can explain when presenting the project, the more impressed the teacher will be.
The science fair is an exciting and wonderful learning experience. It can help you bond with your child while fostering interest in the sciences. Enjoy!
Corina Fiore was a high school science teacher for 7 years before taking time off to raise her children. She was one of the select few chosen by Boeing to attend a special Advanced Space Camp for Educators in her tenure as teacher, offering numerous insights and activities to be used in the classroom. Corina remains dedicated to education and to the sciences, getting involved in local schools by serving as “guest scientist”.
Questions about the “Dreaded” Science Fair? Leave them here, in the comment section, we will be happy to answer those!
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Ask the Teacher Tuesday – Organization
I’m taking the day off today, but don’t fret, Lauralee from raisingtyandza.blogspot.com volunteered to guest post on a very important topic. One that I even struggle with – ORGANIZATION!! This is good stuff!
This October closes the 2009-10 school year’s first quarter. As a teacher and natural observer, I see changes with my students. Absences and illnesses become more frequent, the gusto, the promise, and hope of a new school year wanes, and unfortunately, students struggle more than they did a few weeks ago.
Many influences hurt students’ grades. One factor is a lack of organization. When students cannot find papers, notes, or assignments, they waste time searching and also become frustrated. As a result, they sleep and study less. They fall behind. Unfortunately, some of them will give up.
Organization is a great life skill, one that many do not love, that many struggle with because they know it is necessary for productivity. It needn’t be that way. Working with your child in natural ways makes organization inherent. Here are a few benefits and ways to organize your child, at different ages.
During preschool and early elementary, teachers often do a great job incorporating organization into everyday life. Part of school lists includes labels, color-coded folders, and binder separators.
Sort toys with your child. For instance, take cars and sort them by sizes and colors. Some children may classify all vehicles as “cars.” This is a great opportunity to show distinctions between objects. Separate them into trucks, racecars, fire trucks, character cars, etc. Part of organizing is knowing the objects’ differences.
Middle elementary students are given a bit of freedom at this point. Teachers may request certain school supplies, but allows students to organize in their own way. Take time to discuss with your student his plans for organization. Carry some of the ideas from previous years to this stage. Some may find a folder for each class helpful, while others want a binder.
Give your child responsibilities at home. Children can arrange their toys, books, writing utensils, clothes, and pictures. Have him sit down with you while cleaning out the plastics drawer. Show how to find lids for all containers, separate by sizes, and sort what needs tossed.
Middle school or junior high teachers are less specific than previous teachers. (Part of this is because they have so many students, which also means your child probably has many teachers). Students experience new freedom, which is why they may lose focus.
Students begin taking longer class notes at this age. Look at their notes for easy fixes to aid with organization. Dates should be at the top of pages for facilitating order. Writing every other line helps for adding ideas when reviewing. Aside from organizing schoolwork, children can strengthen their foresight and planning skills when they prepare for after school activities or trips. They must pack, preparing for different weather and event scenarios.
Students also write longer papers at this stage. Papers must be organized. Work with your child: separate concepts with lists and turn those lists into paragraphs.
At the high school age, organization pays off in so many ways. First, students normally have a complex schedule. For each class, teachers expect students to have their supplies. Second, students independently take notes and study. Third, students are involved in more than just school: jobs, friends, sports, clubs, and family activities. Fourth, high schoolers prepare for college, which branches off to a payoff for helping your child at so many stages.
If you haven’t already, show your child how you organize your money. One bill needs paid this month, but not the next. Certain withdraws happen each 15th of the month. Taxes are due twice a year and the car needs oil changes throughout the year. Money needs set aside for the holidays, vacations, and birthdays.
When you work with your child on one concept like organization, so much more happens. You begin to teach other life skills, like financial management. You spend quality time with your child. You also demonstrate your love to your child. Organization and love? I think they do go together.
Lauralee Moss writes about education, female oriented subjects and parenting. She has written for Young Urban Moms and Book Rags.
Moss’s master’s research project studied the organizational habits of high schoolers. She taught high school English before becoming a SAHM. She is currently working on a website about teaching organization to young children and blogging about educational theories in application to her children at http://raisingtyandza.blogspot.com.
Let us know: What organizational tips/tools have worked with your children?
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Who Wouldn’t Want a New Kid by Friday?!
Disclaimer: I love my boys and although I think they are perfect little angels pretty good kids, I do believe there is always room for improvement ! And whether you are like me, who doesn’t necessarily think you are doing that bad of a job, or you are at your wits end and don’t know what else to do, this is merely a suggestion. I am not getting compensated for this post!
As you know, I was fortunate enough to get away this past weekend to the Hearts At Home Conference where I heard Dr. Kevin Leman speak. WOW! If you ever get a chance to hear him speak, I would highly encourage you to do so. Because I was so encouraged and convicted after hearing him speak, I went immediately to his booth and bought his latest book:
Have a New Kid by Friday: How to Change Your Child’s Attitude, Behavior & Character in 5 Days
If you are a parent (especially a toddler parent as I am), I would HIGHLY recommend reading this book, so that you can lay the foundation of discipline down early. But according to Dr. Leman, this philosophy will work for your 3 year old, your 12 year old or even you 20 year old. If you are a teacher, I would HIGHLY recommend reading this book. It is interesting because as I teacher, I did most of these principles, but as a parent, it is a good reminder that I need to be more responsive to my kids behaviors (respond NOT react) and to stay consistent with them. I tend to stay consistent but will lose my temper more than I would like to admit, and tend to repeat things more than I should. Which, I believe, is a big part of the stress I am feeling as a parent! This book and Dr. Leman is a God-send.
Education, priorities, respect all begin in the home and will translate into the classroom. That is why I felt justified to post this book suggestion to my Ask the Teacher Tuesday.
It is an easy read. The main principles only take up about a third of the book, with the rest of the book giving suggestions and examples on every day situations. Jenny actually read most of the book aloud on our way home and we discussed each chapter before moving on. It is practical, easy to implement, down to earth and rewarding (within days).
Let me know: Have you read this book and if so, did it work for your family? But if you haven’t read this book, go read it and come back and let me know how it works for you.
If you have questions or concerns, not related to this post that you would like to bounce off me, you can leave a comment HERE or contact me.
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Ask the Teacher Tuesday – How’s the Year Going So Far?
By now, your children have been in school for about 6 weeks. How are things going? It is a great time to re-evaluate your child’s habits and needs. For this post I decided to review some helpful tips to encourage a more successful school year.
1. By now, you should be in a pretty good routine and schedule. Here are a few things to remember and evaluate when it comes to schedules.
- How much sleep is your child getting each night? From the ages of 6 – 12, children need 10 – 11 hours of sleep. Sleep plays a very key role in your child’s education. Think about what time your child needs to get up and to get ready WITHOUT having to rush. Work backwards 11 hours to determine what time he/she should be asleep. From that time add a half hour of wind down time to insure that he/she is ready when it is time for bed.
- Get rid of TV’s. Okay I am going out on a limb here and against all popular belief! Get the t.v.s out of your children’s room and do not allow them to watch it right before bed time (within 30 minutes). Instead encourage a more relaxing activity such as reading together.
- Are you making homework time a priority? Have you set aside a time and quiet place for you child to do his / her homework. If not, I would highly encourage you to set a time (let’s say from 4:00 to 5:30 to work on homework, study and read) and set a quiet place to work. I would recommend the dining room table where you can be easily accessible if questions arise and also so that you can occasionally check on the progress.
- For younger students, go over homework together. Check for completeness and whether it is done correctly.
- Are you spending a little bit of time every night studying? As I have mentioned before in previous posts, spending even just 15 minutes a night studying improves understanding and helps relieve test taking stress! No CRAMMING!
2. Besides schedules, how about your child’s nutritional needs?
- Are you making breakfast a priority? All children NEED breakfast. Studies have shown how eating breakfast increases test scores. Breakfasts could include an hard boiled egg with a banana, or a whole grain muffin with milk or a breakfast burrito with a side of fruit. All of these breakfasts can be made ahead of time and reheated in the morning. Notice I didn’t mention cereal. If cereal is your child’s favorite, please make sure it isn’t a sugary one. Although, a sugary one is better than no breakfast, the sugar high does run out before lunch.
- Speaking of lunch? A low fat lunch packed with fresh fruits/veggies, lean meats and whole grains will allow your child’s blood sugar to remain constant through the end of the day. Most kids blood sugars drop right after the lunch recess, making it very difficult to learn during those last couple of hours of school.
3. Have your child prepare his book bag the night before. If organization is an issue, come up with a list together that he can check off every night to make sure he has everything for the following day. More organizational tips to come in future posts!
4. Eat dinner together EVERY night. The best part is, that research has shown, it ISN’T what you make, it is the time together that makes the difference. Although a healthy, home cooked meal is ideal, take out or delivery pizza eaten as a family, every night has the same benefits.
5. Do you know all the names of your child’s teachers? And do you ask/talk about them on a regular basis? This communicates to your child that his/her education is very important to you. In turn they will live up to the standard of school important to them also.
These are just a few things to consider. I will be doing a similar post in a few weeks with some more items to evaluate. How are you and your kids doing so far? Are their areas that could be improved upon? Do you have a specific routine that works well for you and your family? I would love to hear about it!
If you have questions or concerns, not related to this post that you would like to bounce off me, you can leave a comment HERE or contact me.
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Ask the Teacher Tuesday – Parent Teacher Conferences
Time to think ahead – Parent/Teacher Conferences are coming up soon! This is a great opportunity to sit down with your child’s teacher to discuss how the school year is going. Speaking as a teacher, we spend a significant amount of time preparing for these conferences. It is a labor intensive time because we write out individualized conference reports for each student. These reports usually state a couple of positive things we have seen from each student along with a couple of areas that each student can work on. But to get the most out of your conference, come prepared! Here are a few ideas that will make your parent/teacher conference run more smoothly and for you to gain some valuable information from you child’s teacher about your child.
- First, start looking for your conference appointment slip. Many teachers will send home a scheduled time for your conference about a month prior to conferences. Check to see if this appointment will work on your calendar, add it to the calendar and if it will not work for you, let the teacher know as soon as possible so that the conference can be rescheduled to work best with both you and the teacher. Most teachers will again, send another notice home, the week before the conference as a reminder.
- Start writing topics down that you would like to discuss. I don’t know about you but I will think of important items while in the shower or making dinner, most of the time I will forget about them by the time I need to remember them, if I don’t write them down immediately.
- Along with writing down topics, jot down a couple of positive observations you have seen from your child. Such as “Susie really seemed to enjoy the unit on the Solar System, she talked about each planet during dinner” or “Bobby has been working extra hard on his math facts and it has paid off” or “Mary has been talking a lot about how easy math is this year because you have helped her during study hall” etc. If your child has had some positive experiences so far in the school year, let the teacher know.
- Jot down questions or concerns you may have. “Susie seems to be struggling with fractions, is their anything I can do to help her during study time?” or “Tommy hasn’t been talking about his friends as much as he usually has, do you notice anything unusual that could be going on?”
- Be understanding and respectful about your scheduled conference time. Be aware that most conferences are scheduled in 15 minute increments. If you believe you will need more time than that, communicate that to the teacher before hand so that accommodations can be made. Also try to get to your conference a few minutes early so that your conference can start on time. If you believe you will be late or can’t make it during the scheduled time, call as soon as you can so that other arrangements can be made.
- Be ready for some constructive criticism. It is our job to help your kids succeed in school. And as a teacher, there are never “perfect” students. What I mean by that is, we can always give suggestions on how to improve. Even if your child is a great student, there is always some room for improvement. Be willing to work together with the teacher on how to resolve issues. Remember that the child you see at home, may not be the same kid at school. Issues that your child’s teacher will bring up may include behavior, quality of work, time management, social and peer interactions etc. Be opened minded. If you question a conclusion made by the teacher, voice your opinion and work together on a solution.
- Discuss the conference with your child. This is probably a no-brainer but your kids want to know what was said and most likely (if they are older) can tell you what the teacher talked about with you. They are pretty good at knowing where they stand and if they are fulfilling the expectations of you and their teachers.
Hopefully these suggestions will help you get ready for your parent/teacher conferences. If you have any other questions concerning parent/teacher conferences you can leave a comment on this post or send me an email.
Now I want to hear from you! Are there any other suggestions that were not previously stated that have worked well for you, that you think other parents would find beneficial? Secondly, I am curious to know if you come to your parent/teacher conferences with notes written down or do you just “wing it”?
If you have questions or concerns, not related to this post that you would like to bounce off me, you can leave a comment HERE or contact me.
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Ask the Teacher – Increased Math Success and Preschool Readiness
QUESTION 1: What do you think about 3 year-olds going to a pre-school program? I’m considering it for next fall – 9am – noon two days a week. B is an only child thus far. She spends little time with kids her own age as her local cousins are much older and playdates just aren’t as frequent as I’d like them to be.
This is a question, that I myself have had to mull over in the last couple of months. I have had SO MANY parents ask me what Preschool I have Evan enrolled in. As if it is assumed that Evan must be in preschool, since I am a teacher. If you are new to the blog, Evan is 2 and half. Then the second question most parents ask me after I inform them that he isn’t in preschool yet is “When will you be putting him in Preschool”. In my well-educated voice, I say, “I don’t know!”
I don’t know when he will be ready. I do know he wasn’t ready this year. I will reevaluate the situation next summer and see whether he is ready or not. But I also have the luxury of being at home with him during the day, so I know that I am “teaching” him what he would be learning in Preschool.
Now that I have made preschool sound less appealing, I will go on the record and say that there are many benefits of Preschool that are worth looking into:
- Socialization – I think most parents agree with this one. Kids need to be around other kids. We are all social beings, that is how God made us, and kids are no different. But keep in mind that if you are in play groups and extracurriculars (gymnastics, soccer, local recreation center classes) all count for great exposure to other kids.
- Schedule – I think one of the most important roles preschool holds is getting your kids used to a more concrete schedule and a schedule that is not all about them, ESPECIALLY if your child is an only child or a younger child whose siblings are in school. And it starts them out a little easier with a couple days a week versus a full week as they would get in Kindergarten.
- Diversity – Maybe you feel confident in teaching reading, so your child is a wonderful reader. But what about Art or Math? Preschool can supplement what you may not do well. Not that you shouldn’t try to work on other activities, but let’s face it, if we aren’t that great in something, do you go out of your way to teach your child that topic. I know I don’t. Fortunately, Jeremy LOVES to do the Arts with the boys and the boys grandparents add much more diverse activities into their lives. But many parents don’t have that luxury (or patience) to work on EVERYTHING with their kids. So I feel Preschool is a great supplement!
Now to answer the part of the question on when to send your child to preschool. At 3 and half, I feel that 2 days a week for a total of 6 hours, is a great experience for your child. I, personally wouldn’t do much more than that, at 3 and half but others may disagree with me and that’s cool. I would definitely get my child into a preschool program at least the year before they start Kindergarten.
Remember, and I know I have said this too many times, BUT you know your children BEST. And you know when they are ready. Don’t be pressured to put them in earlier or later, just because your friends are doing it or your parents have suggested it. FYI, my mom put me in preschool the year before I started Kindergarten. I lasted no more than a week. Apparently I hated it and it stressed me out. I wasn’t ready and my mom made the decision to pull me out. I then started Kindergarten the following year without any problems.
And always make sure you do your homework, on what type of Preschool will work best for your child. That is a whole other topic that can be discussed at a later time. But the point is don’t force it, if your child isn’t ready, don’t force it. Don’t assume that by a certain age, they MUST be in preschool. Some are ready at 2 and half and others not ready until 4 and half and some kids go straight to Kindergarten without blinking an eye! You know your child best!
QUESTION 2: What is the Importance of Music in the Understanding of Math
Did you know that Music can build Math skills? Not just music, though! Music lessons. By starting a child in piano lessons at the age of 3, you are building math skills that will build for success in math later on in school. More specifically, piano lessons build spatial awareness. A simple definition of spatial awareness is how things fit together. Geometry is heavy in spatial awareness, but also puzzles and directions etc. An added benefit of better Spatial Awareness skills, it also plays a super important role in sports. How your body moves smoothly and the ability to not run into objects, is also spatial awareness.
Scientists don’t know exactly why this is, but study after study has confirmed that music lessons with preschoolers increase test scores in Math (later in school), specifically in spatial awareness.
Don’t know where to get music lessons for toddlers? Here are a few suggestions:
- Call your local music stores. If they don’t have music lessons, someone there probably can get you in contact with someone who does do them.
- Secondly, call your church. I took piano lessons when I was a child from the piano player at church. He was in the Air Force, but loved teaching piano during the evenings!
- Call your local Recreation Centers. They may offer group classes for beginners, and/or can give you names of those who teach lessons.
- Ask around. Don’t be afraid to ask other parents!
- Ask a music teacher. I know many music teachers give lessons after school. And again, if the teacher you ask doesn’t, I guarentee they know someone who does.
Finding music lessons for toddlers can be challenging and require some time and patience but the benefits pay off in the long run. My Evan is turning 3 in January and I will be starting my search now.
**Update** – I received this comment from Sarah (Musical Mommy) that I thought was important enough to add to the post so no one would over look it in the comment section. Thanks Sarah for the valid points and the link!!
I just wanted to add one thing in about how to find music lessons…
The number one concern with most parents looking for music lessons is safety. Your child is now going to interact with a teacher and you must make sure that teacher is safe, reliable and trustworthy. By relying on word of mouth alone, you may not find exactly what you are looking for.
You should definitely check out www.takelessons.com in your search for Evan’s music lessons. TakeLessons is a national music lesson provider with safe, certified teachers. All teachers have had background and reference checks. TakeLessons stands by their teachers and if you have a less than perfect experience, they will work with you until you find the best fit. I highly recommend them and hope you will add them to your list
So this week, what I want to hear from y’all is two-fold. When did you start your kids in preschool and was it a positive or negative experience? And do your kids take music lessons? If so, what kind and when did you start them?
If you have questions or concerns, not related to this post that you would like to bounce off me, you can leave a comment here or contact me.
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Ask the Teacher, Saturday?
Okay so it’s not Tuesday, but with school in full swing, I thought I would give my readers an extra chance to ask me some questions.
How are things going? Whether you are a parent of a preschooler or a Jr. Higher or any grade in between, I can help you find answers to questions you may have. One thing I haven’t done, is give you a little background about me!
Here is a little bio for you just in case you need to know my credentials. I graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education with a concentration in Math. I love Math and I love teaching math. I taught 5th grade math and science for 7 years. I am currently half way through my Masters Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies of Elementary Education and Math. And although I LOVED teaching, I LOVE my own kids more and VERY fortunately I was able to become a stay-at-home mom after I had my second son, Carter. I worked full time the first year of being a mom, to help my husband’s business get off the ground. Although it has been a struggle sometimes to make ends meet, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I have been blessed and challenged in so many ways being at home with my boys.
I have found, that although I may not be physically in the classroom now, that I still desire to help others and find the BEST possible ways to help my own children learn. And as much as I love being home with my boys, I do miss teaching and helping others learn. That is the reason for “Ask the Teacher Tuesdays”. My goal is to help parents out with questions you may have that you may not know who to ask, or may not feel comfortable asking your child’s teacher.
It also allows me to stay current with today’s educational topics. Because trust me, if there is a question asked that I truly am not comfortable answering, I research all the latest info until I feel comfortable to help, and/or ask colleagues of mine who I trust! So keep me busy!!
I look forward to this endeavor and even if you don’t have specific questions, stop by on Tuesdays and see what topics I am discussing and questions parents are asking. You never know what you might come across and hopefully find something that will help your job as “parent” a little bit easier!
So keep in touch and if you are new to my site, WELCOME. I look forward to getting to know you.
If you have questions or concerns, not related to this post that you would like to bounce off me, you can leave a comment here or contact me.
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Ask the Teacher Tuesday: A New Reading Strategy and Gift-Giving!
This first topic is a “part 2″ of a previous question, posted a couple of weeks ago (Ask the Teacher Tuesday Reading and Study Skills). I would encourage you to read that post before reading this one since I will be bouncing off what I said in the original post.
The original question was: Do you have any advice on when/how to start teaching reading?
I came across some very interesting information this week that I wanted to share. It has to do with the topic that was discussed a couple of weeks ago about when and how to teach reading. I went to the library this week to pick up some books on activities to do with toddlers, just to get some fresh activities into the mix and to plan for the next few months of wet, cold and snow (need I say more?).
I came across a great resource: Baby Minds: Brain-Building Games Your Baby Will Love by Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn. I was very pleased to see that their approach on reading paralleled my views on teaching reading. But I did find a bit more information very helpful that I, myself, don’t do, but have definitely starting doing,this week.
A few very important statements from their book that I wanted to share with you:
- Countless studies have shown that children whose parents read to them from very early ages (regardless of how they do it) tend to talk earlier, read better and think in more complex ways than children whose parents don’t.
- The second item is a term they coined “Dialogic Reading”. All this means is to bring dialogue into the context of reading. Not just reading the words but modeling how and what we think while we are reading. This type of reading, answers questions in the reader’s mind. The “how”, “why” and “Where” types of questions. Let me just interject here, that as a teacher I was trained to approach teaching with this style. While reading a text, it is important to pause with the students and reflect what we were reading. But I have to admit that I haven’t thought to do this type of reading with young children (my own kids). Because in my mind, babies and toddlers couldn’t truly understand these types of questions and since they can’t talk to me, why try? I have been convinced otherwise and feel very foolish for being so naive.
- They cited a experiment done between dialogic reading and basic reading and what they found convinced me to definitely begin doing dialogic reading with my own kids and to inform you, my readers about it. The study took parents who ALREADY read to their TODDLERS on a daily basis and broke them into two groups. One group was encouraged to go home and continue what they had been doing and the other group was given the information on dialogic reading and shown how to do it with their toddlers. At the beginning of the study all the children were pretty much at the same developmental skills but after only 1 month, the group that did the dialogic reading were 8 and 1/2 months ahead on one measure and 6 months ahead on the other. And after 9 months of the study this group continued to be 6 months ahead of the other. Keep in mind, also, that all the children were found to be 6 months ahead in reading to their peers, before the experiment, due to parental involvement in daily reading.
Here are some examples of types of questioning to use:
“What’s Dumbo doing? He’s flying!”
“Where do you think Dumbo is going?”
“What do you think Goldilocks told her mommy when she got home?”
“Why do you think he is mad?”
“From the picture, so you think she is happy or sad?”
HOLY COW! How did I not think of this, as a teacher? But starting early, at 6 months, this type of reading seems to definitely improve language and reading skills.
Pretty much the authors state that a good question, is one that inspires your child to say something.
If you want more information on how to apply this type of reading, I would highly encourage you to check out the book at your local library or purchase a copy for you own.
I can’t wait to get to the Mathematics section of the book and report my findings to you.
The next question that was posed to me this week, that I thought would be a great one to discuss early on, isn’t actually on education per say, but on a more personal level with your child’s teacher.
Jenny asked, “What is a good teacher gift? I am already stressing over what to get Joshua’s teacher for Christmas. I don’t want to get her something she will get 1,000 of. What are some of the best gifts you got when you were teaching?”
I LOVE talking gifts and this actually is a fun one for me, because during the holidays and birthdays, us teachers would joke about our gifts. DON’T get me wrong, we definitely appreciate the kindness and thoughtfulness of the students and parents, but sometimes we wished we could do a “wish list” for parents to see. My teaching partner and myself actually starting joking with the kids early on in the school year of what we wanted for Christmas, in hopes to score some great gifts.
A few thoughtful and useful gifts:
- Gift Cards! I think this one is probably on the top of any teacher’s wish list. Gift cards could be for restaurants, retail stores or even salons. The beauty of it is, we teachers know that it is more the thought then the price tag!! We would be tickled pink to get a $5 gift card to Bob Evans, Starbucks or Bath and Body Works. If you can afford more, feel free to indulge your teacher in a larger amount. But DON’T feel bad if $5 is all you can afford. We understand and truly appreciate just being remembered during the holidays. It truly is the thought that counts
- Find an interest that you know your child’s teacher is into. I can think of 3 all-time favorite gifts that I received. And none of them were expensive or extravagant! The first being a University of Michigan bell. It was a small, porcelain bell that I could use in my classroom but also after the school year was over, I could place it on my sports wall at home. Believe it or not, that was the only University of Michigan gift I received in 7 years of teaching {insert jokes here…I know many of you OSU fans will jump on that one}. The second was a bag of bird seed. You may think that that is an odd gift to give a teacher, but this particular student knew how much I loved watching birds and that I had many bird feeders in my yard. What was even more thoughtful, he knew how much I enjoyed Cardinals in the middle of winter time, so he made sure it was black oil sunflower seeds – Cardinals favorite seed. To be honest, I almost cried after opening that gift because it showed me that the student really picked up on that particular interest of mine during the school year. The third gift was actually gifts for my kids. This particular student of mine was extremely into sports. It was phenomenal the information he could give me about “who did what, in what year etc” so know how much my Evan is into sports, he got Evan a Nerf Set of balls (the one with a basketball, a football and a basketball) and got Carter a book on sports. I also got a very generous gift card, but it was more thoughtful that the parents though of my kids too.
Now that I have given you a few things that are wonderful to receive as gifts, a few items that we tend to get A LOT of:
- Coffee mugs. I don’t know really why parents think we drink a lot of coffee or something – LOL but I got on average 5 coffee mugs a year. I do love my coffee, but unfortunately I don’t have room for 35 extra mugs in my kitchen. Instead, buy them a nice bag of coffee (i.e. Starbucks, Caribou etc)
- Candles. I love Yankee Candles but I don’t use up that many during the year. A possible alternative is the Bath and Body Works Wall Flowers and a set of refills.
- Lotions. I got a lot of lotions. And this one is border line because I love to small pretty but I actually have an allergy to many of the scented lotions, so many times I had to re-gift those. If you want to get lotion, get them a gift card instead to some place like Bath and Body so that they can pick out something that they will get to use. But one thing that I never got tired of was getting hand lotions, because teachers are always washing their hands and my hands will crack during the winter months. So the mini hand lotions were perfect for putting on my desk and using at school.
Hopefully those suggestions help!
So this week, what I want to hear from y’all is two-fold. Any books that you have read (on activities to do with toddlers) that are good recommendations? What special, creative gifts have you given teachers?
If you have questions or concerns, not related to this post that you would like to bounce off me, you can leave a comment here or contact me.
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Ask the Teacher Tuesday – Communication
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Today’s post focuses on communication. If you have read any of my Ask the Teacher posts, I think by now you understand how important, I feel, communication is. But for this post I am answering emails that were sent to me, specifically on this topic.
My twin daughters are in preschool. They are 4, so most days when I get home from work and ask them how they day was I get “I don’t remember” to every question. I work full time and my grandmother-in-law drops the kids off at preschool and picks them up for me.
The preschool is great, but they don’t communicate a lot with parents because of time. I can email them, but I am never sure how much is too much.I feel really out of the loop this year. I would like some advice on how often is the appropriate amount to email my girls teachers and ask them how they’re doing and what they are doing. I really want to be involved, but I am not sure how to do it without being a nuisance. And I would love for my children to be able to remember and want to tell me how their day was. Can you give me some advice?
That is a common question that I get from parents. To be honest, your reasons for contacting a teacher are wonderful and any teacher would LOVE an email stating what you just stated to me!! I would email the teacher and explain what you just did and then ask if emailing them once a week (or once every 2 weeks – depending on what you are looking for) would be okay. Most teachers would not mind giving you feedback with that time frame.
Also keep in mind that because teachers are busy with many students, that an email from you as a reminder every couple of weeks would be helpful. It could be as simple as “Hi (Teacher’s Name), I just wanted to touch base with you and see how (child’s name) is doing? Is there anything I need to know about and any suggestions on what I could be doing at home to help them for school?”After a few emails back and forth, that relationship will form and emailing will be easier.
If email isn’t your thing, call the teacher and request a phone conference where you can discuss your concerns. Ask if the teacher and you can set a consistent day and time to talk on the phone about how your child is doing. Same principle as above.
My 8 year old has come home several times this week complaining that his teacher is picking on him. I know that most likely this isn’t the case and I have tried to discuss and question what possibly could be going on, but he thinks that he isn’t doing anything wrong and that the teacher just doesn’t like him. What is the best way to go about approaching his teacher about this. I don’t want to seem that I am over protective and jumping to conclusions but at the same time I need to know if something is going on. Any advice would be appreciated.
You do have a right to be concerned, but PLEASE do not jump to conclusions. Be prepared that it may be a more serious issue (i.e. a behaviour issue, bullying) or it may be a big misunderstanding. I would just call the teacher and ask if there is something going on in the classroom that you need to know about and explain to her how your son feels.
There can be several scenarios that could be going on and the sooner you work it out with you son’s teacher the sooner the issue can be resolved. Trust me, your teacher will be encouraged and glad that you feel comfortable enough to to come to her and work together for a solution.
Now it’s your turn, parents. If you have a positive story about how you have opened communication up between your child’s teacher and yourself, I would LOVE to hear from you. Please leave a comment below! Or if you have a more specific question about the above emails, please feel free to leave the question in the comment section or contact me.
If you have questions or concerns, not related to this post that you would like to bounce off me, you can leave a comment here or contact me.
For a list of recent “Ask the Teacher” posts, click HERE.
Ask the Teacher Tuesday – Reading and Study Skills
Any advice on when/how to start teaching reading?
This is such a tricky topic, because there are LOADS of conflicting advice and so many ideas and theories out there. Please remember I am only one teacher, with one point of view. And basically you can take it or leave it. Hopefully I can give some insight on the topic and answer questions that some of you have. I have spoken to a few colleagues of mine about this topic since it is sooo controversial and we did come to somewhat of a consensus.
I have mentioned before on previous posts, the importance of reading to your child from the day you bring him home from the hospital. This is the first and most important building block your child needs to become a reader. Those little brains soak up more than we can even imagine and every experience they have with books and reading, brings them one step closer to reading and understanding the written word.
If you have taken a foreign language before, you have probably heard many say that you learn more quickly when you are immersed into that language and culture then just merely being in a classroom practicing the language. The same is true for babies. Babies need to hear the words that are being read on the pages of a book, the patterns that are formed while reading aloud, the intonations that you hear when a person speaks, the pictures that are associated with the words, the stories behind the words. All of these are very important for a child to experience, before their ability to read themselves. You are modeling to them from the beginning what reading sounds like and what reading means.
Secondly, it is very important to teach children at a very young age how to handle books. How to hold them in the proper orientation, how to turn pages gently and in order, how to respect books by not handling them roughly by bending and tearing. Believe it or not this too is also a very important step in the reading process. But fortunately this step in taken care of when you read to your child on a daily basis. They learn, by example, how to hold a book, how to turn pages and so on.
I remember a study that was discussed in one of my education classes back in college. The study surveyed several inner-city, poverty stricken schools and found on the first day of kindergarten that many of those children did not know how to hold a book properly, with the correct orientation. Can you imagine a 5 year old child not knowing how to hold a book, but worse is that many of those children never had any books to hold and read with a parent. They lost out on 5 years of reading and it is very difficult to make those years up! Those children many years later, still had difficulties in reading and comprehension.
Do you need to actually “teach” reading to your child? Not necessarily! Let me explain. I think that many parents think they have to sit down with their children and “teach” reading or worse, pop in a video. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t fully object to the previous examples, but they shouldn’t be your PRIMARY source of teaching. Reading is a necessity that we experience all the time. Why not bring your kids along for the ride. From the very beginning you can show kids words that we use on a daily basis. A good example of this is a stop sign. How many times have you gone for walks with your infant and have walked by a stop sign. First, your infant may love the way a stop sign looks. It is big and red and captures your baby’s attention. Stop briefly and say, “that is a stop sign, it say ‘Stop’ S…T…O…P, spells stop”. Pretty simple, right? You don’t have to sit them down and make them memorize words, they will pick up on this very quickly.
Another example, if you take your toddlers grocery shopping. Think about how many signs are hanging up, above the fresh produce, the deli counter, the meat department. Why not go through the produce isle and pick 3 or 4 signs and show your toddler, again in the same way we did with the “stop sign”, “Susie, that says grapes, you love to eat grapes, don’t you?, G…R…A…P…E…S, grapes.”
Words are all around us and if we keep in constant communication with our kids, in a way that is natural and organic, then kids will learn reading in a way that is natural and easy. And the best part of it is, it is simple to do. You don’t have to run out to the store for a video or curriculum. You don’t have to worry about when and how to start because you have been doing it all along. Communication is also very important because the communication you have between you and your children actually will be the clue when he is ready to move on to more advanced reading skills. He will begin asking you questions, such as, “what does that say?” or “how do you spell…?” Then you can feel free to challenge them more by showing them more words and phrases.
When your child gets to the point of being interested more in reading , you should begin sounding out words with them. Reviewing what sounds go with what letters. Beginning phonics can be “taught” right there along the same time as showing them the stop sign. “That is an ‘S’, an ’s’ sounds like this…”
The whole beauty of this is, that many of you are reading this and saying “duh, I am already doing this.” And that is what I am hoping for. As parents, most of us do this naturally, without thinking too much about it, to some extent, in our daily interactions with our kids. We find moments to give them tiny tidbits of information through out the day. That communication between you and your child is the most important step to beginning reading!
Any Advice on Study Skills
Understanding the way your child learns is key in helping your child succeed in studying. These are called Learning Styles. Is your child a visual learner? Have you noticed that if they see what is being taught they understand more, or if it is shown to them they pick up on it easier? Is your child an auditory leaner? Auditory learners typically can understand subject matter when it is explained to them and when they can talk about it. Kinesthetic learners learn by doing, they are the hands-on type of learners. Many times learners can fall into more than one category.
These are the 3 major ones. If you can figure out what category your child fits into, then you are half way through the battle. An example I will use is that I am a Auditory primarily and a visual learner secondary. I have to hear what is being taught and be active in a discussion about it! I cannot comprehend information by just reading about it. I have to be able to discuss it and sometimes have info read to me to understand it fully. But I also need to have info shown to me. Show me how to do something and I will immediately be able to remember it, but if I read it in a book, I can’t usually do it.
So what does this mean to you as a parent? First, try to find out what type of learner your child is. This would be a great question to discuss with your child’s teacher also. They see them for 5+ hours a day and may be able to give you some insight into what style your child falls into. Also you child’s teacher can give you specific examples on how to help them at home, based on the actual curriculum your child is learning!
Some tips:
- Set aside a quiet area in the house for studying.
- Be actively involved with your child during studying time, especially in the younger grades. By 6th grade, your child most likely won’t need or want your immediate help.
- Each night set aside 15 minutes to study, even if there are no tests the next day. These 15 minutes can include weekly vocab, weekly spelling words, math flash cards, or even flipping through their Social Studies chapter and scan the contents and ask review questions. What’s important to remember is that 5 minutes of vocab words (or spelling words, or math facts) a night will decrease the amount of cram time before the test and will build true understanding – and isn’t that what we want as parents.
- Have the younger kids do some quick exercises before sitting down to study: jumping jacks, a brisk walk around the park, 5 minutes of basketball outside. Studies have shown that exercise before studying has increased retention levels.
- Have open communication with your kids. Don’t ask, “What happened at school today?” because we know what the answer will be. Ask them to give you one thing they learned about in Math or to give you one positive thing and one negative thing that happened, etc.
- When studying with your child, try incorporating ALL three styles into the mix! It will make a big improvement on true understanding = higher grades!
Of course, these are brief explanations and if you have a more in depth question or need clarification please contact me or leave a comment below. Or if you want to ask a separate question or share a concern you can leave a comment here or contact me.
I have been receiving emails with some GREAT questions, that I will be sharing next week! To see past “Ask the Teacher” posts click here.
6 Steps to a Successful School Year
With the school year starting (or for some of you it has already begun) I wanted to give you a few tips, from a teacher’s point of view, that will bring a successful (and easier) year for both your child and yourself. Many of these tips you may already do, and many of you may think these are obvious, but as a teacher I feel I need to get the word out!
- Communication with your child’s teacher and school is CRITICAL.
- If you have an at risk child, it is IMPERATIVE that you get in to see your child’s teacher as soon as possible to give them a heads up and to come up with a plan of attack, together, that will ensure an easier transitional time for your child. Please, please don’t wait until parent-teacher conferences to inform a teacher of issues that your child might have. Also, please don’t expect your child’s teacher to figure it out on his/her own. Even if you think the issues are small, I encourage you to sit down with the teachers and discuss concerns you have before hand. By doing this, several positives will come from it. One, the teacher will have a better understanding of your child and, in turn, will already have an idea of how to handle situations that will arise. Secondly, the teacher will feel more comfortable contacting you more quickly, when situations arise. Thirdly, your child will feel a sense of security knowing that you and the teacher are communicating back and forth.
- If you don’t have an at risk child, it is still very important for communication. Let’s be real, most parents will contact the teacher when there is a concern. But if you are fortunate enough to have a child that comes home enthusiastic about what he/she has learned, send a quick note or email to that teacher, informing them of that. We, as teachers, may never know if something positive has occurred with a child. And sometimes, we just need encouragement as the year progresses. Please, take time to say “Thank you”!
- If something as happened in your home life, believe it or not, even the smallest of changes may have an impact on your child in school. Let your child teacher know right away, so that if teacher notices anything out of the ordinary, he/she will have a better understanding on how to help your child through it.
- Communication is such a critical topic and so broad, that I could go on and on and if you have a more specific question about communication, please contact me and I will address it.
2. Have a good attitude about school and teacher (kid picks up on that).
- After good communication, I feel this is the second MOST important key to a successful school year. As a guardian of a teenager (a few years ago) and a parent myself, I understand that sometimes you may not agree with a decision of a teacher, but to allow your child to know that does damage almost beyond repair. I would ask of you to address all concerns with your child’s teacher, and continue to stay positive with your child during that time and to uphold the respect of the teacher in your communication with your child. Disrespect of the teacher often times leads to poor performance of the child in the classroom. It is also a great life lesson to teach your child early on that, yes, people may disagree with each other, but you can still respect each other!
- Along the same lines, knowing every teachers name is so important. I can’t tell you how many times a parent would come in to pick a child up for an early dismissal and when asked what the homeroom teacher’s name was, they didn’t know. That apathy is translated down to the student. And often times there was a correlation from that to the performance of the student in the classroom. Know the names of all the teachers that your child has. Speak about them often during dinner time or in the car. Ask about specific teachers often. When your child speaks about math, incorporate the math teacher’s name into the conversation. This translates to your child that school is important, but also that he/she is important to you because you take interest in their schooling.
3. Make attending all school functions a priority.
- I know how busy your lives are and trust me coming home from work and then turning around to run up to a school function is not your ideal evening. But again, it translates to your child that school is important and also again that your child is important! Being involved in your child’s school academic activities will have a very positive impact on your child’s schooling. You wouldn’t miss a soccer game or band performance right, so the same importance needs to be put on academics.
4. Don’t overdo extra curriculars!
- I am all for extra curriculars, but within reason. I have had many parents ask if their child could get extra time on an assignment because their child had soccer (basketball, football you can fill in the bland here) practice late the night before. Unfortunately soccer isn’t a priority, believe or not. It is a time-management teachable moment. We all have deadlines and the sooner your child understands how to make time for the important things, the more success he/she will be in school.
- Also, don’t have your child in so many activities that they are spread thin. We know how it feels to be spread too thin sometimes, and unfortunately children don’t have the capacity yet to handle that stress. Negative outcomes will occur in academics, health and/or relationships because of this stress.
5. Make homework a priority.
- Set aside a specific time and place to get homework done. Make sure it is a quiet, safe, well lit area. I would suggest giving your child a small amount of time after school to unwind, either with a favorite activity or program – something that they enjoy doing in the down time – and a healthy snack. With the goal in mind of getting all homework done before dinner time so the rest of the evening can be restful and enjoyable for your child.
6. Read with your child every night
- Whether you read to them or with them, making leisure reading time for at least 15 minutes a night will boost their learning in ways that are amazing. It also allows you to show, through example, that reading is important AND enjoyable! Items can include magazine, newspapers or books!
These are just a few items that can help your child have a more successful school year. If you work on these with your child, I guarantee it will not only bring you and your child closer together, but you will see a very positive outcome in your child’s schooling!!
Are there any things that you do that you have found to work well with your children’s success in school? I (and my readers) would love to hear from you!
I look forward to getting questions/comments from you and of course feel free to leave comments on this post with questions, email me, or ask your question on Twitter.
Sneak peak to next week, I will be covering ideas on studying tips and reading instruction.
