Archive for November, 2012

National Parental Involvement Day

Cycle of EducationFrom Tiger moms, to helicopter parenting, to the idea “it takes a village,” no matter the parenting style or ideology, parents play the biggest role in their child’s life.  Far spread across every phase and area in life, parental influence will impact physical, emotional, and intellectual development.  As teachers, it should be no surprise to you that an education fosters the same kind of development in kids.  That is why there are so many reasons why it is important that parents be involved in their child’s education.
Parental involvement in a child’s education both in and out of the classroom offers additional support for the good that you as teachers do for your students and their children.  For National Parental Involvement Day here is a list of a few ways a parent can get involved in the classroom:
For Younger Students
  • Be a class reader:  Story time for younger students is one of the most looked forward to time of day.  Bring in a parent to read to students whether as a group or with select students who may be struggling.  Parents reading in the classroom will reinforce reading skills and encourage students to read at home with their own parent.
  •  Be a parent tutor:  If available in the afternoons, even if it’s not their own child, encourage parents to spend some time tutoring students in the library for a little extra hands-on help.  While most teachers offer extra help themself, sometimes it takes a different perspective for students to understand a lesson.
  • Work as a “specials class” helper:  If a parent has a particular interest in music or art, or is a soccer coach looking to help during that unit in gym class, allowing parents to come in to help in these classes not only assists the teacher but also shows the students that what they are learning can turn into a hobby and passion to last a lifetime.  It’s more of a life lesson than an immediate pencil sketching or lesson on the recorder.
  • Volunteer as class parent:  Generally, class parents can be as involved as their schedules make them available to be.  Whether it is planning classroom parties, chaperoning field trips, organizing special classroom events like speaker presentations, plays, or book fairs, parents can help bring additional learning resources into the classroom.
For Older Students
  • Lead a Special Interest Group:  Teachers are spread thin enough with most having over 20 students per class and having lesson plans  to create and papers to grade with fewer resources than in the past.  Parents taking on the after school extracurricular activities such as the drama club, SADD program, or science club could keep many of these beneficial programs running in the schools.
  • Sign up for Career Day:  Parents coming into the classroom to share with students about their career broadens student’s horizons beyond what their mom and dad, aunt and uncle do for a living.  Opening their eyes to different careers they may not have otherwise been exposed to offers the endless possibilities for a successful career in something they have a real interest in.  A parent sharing with students how they got to be successful at what they do is reinforcement and inspiration for the hard work a student needs to put in to be successful too.
  • Coach a sports team:  Athleticism is a talent but also a critical part to physical and emotional health.  Parents with the ability to lead a sports team can help students develop their own skills and offers a safe healthy environment for them to thrive in.
  • Work as a library assistant:  Similar to career day, parents can help students discover and learn about their interests by helping them do research on areas that spark an interest.

How do you get parents involved in their student’s education at home AND in the classroom?  Share your ideas with us on our Facebook page or leave a comment below.

Nov 15, 2012 | 0 comments | View Post

Year Round Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween was almost a week ago so we realize it’s a little late to be giving pointers to keep the kids safe this October 31st.  Unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy reared her ugly head and put a damper on the East Coast celebrations.  The devastation was immense so much so that you could say that the dark, cold atmosphere after the storm was as eery as any Halloween should be but not in a fun sort of way.  So although this years tips are a little behind schedule and may not be useful for “Trick or Treating” going from door to door with the kids, they are useful tips for community safety (some more than others.)
  • Adult Supervision – Younger children should always be accompanied by a trusted adult, while “Trick or Treating” – Teach younger children to “Be Smart Play It Safe On Halloween” with this educational safety kit.
  • Stay in a Group – If children are older make sure your children stay with a group if they are not going to be with an adult.
  • Map it Out – Plan out a route around the neighborhood before your children go out “Trick or Treating” be sure to explain to them why it is important to them to stick to the route.
  • Stay Within Well lit Areas – Have your kids trick-or-treat in areas where there are a lot of people around. Tell them to avoid shortcuts through alleys and parking lots.
  • Stick to Friendly Homes – Tell your kids to approach houses with lights on and to avoid homes that are dark. You may want to include avoiding homes with no decorations at all.
  • Stay Outside – Tell your children they are never to go inside someone’s home, even if they were invited. They can get their candy at the doorstep.
  • Be Visible – Bright costumes can be seen more easily then dark costumes, if your child is wearing a dark costume make sure they wear reflective gear. Make sure your children carry a glow stick, bracelet, necklace or a flashlight if they are traveling at night.
  • Check Costumes – Make sure the costume your child decides to wear is comfortable. You don’t want their costume to make it hard for them to move around or too long they can trip.
  • Try to Avoid Masks – If possible instead of masks use makeup. Masks make it harder for children to see and you want them to be alert to their surroundings.
  • Check it First – All candy should be checked over by a parent first before a child eats it. Throw out any candy that is not in its original wrapper or looks as if it was tampered with.
  • Avoid Strangers – Make sure to tell your kids to never accept rides or go anywhere with a stranger, tell them to avoid approaching anyone in a vehicle.
  • Obey the law – Make sure your kids understand all the rules for walking around and crossing roads. Children should always cross at corners and at traffic lights where traffic is busier.
  • Have Fun – Most importantly make sure your kids have tons of fun and get a whole bunch of candy!

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Nov 06, 2012 | 0 comments | View Post

Respect For All Week Idea Guide

Bully Free Pledge BannerHold a “Walk Away From Bullies” group walk around the school campus. Have students sign the “Take a Stand Against Bullying” Pledge Banner before the walk. Reward students with a “Take A Stand, Lend A Hand” Tag With Chain to remind them of their pledge.

Nov 06, 2012 | 0 comments | View Post