William Penn Life, 1999 (34. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
1999-09-01 / 9. szám
Steps vou can take to improve your child's education You’re Part of the Equation ((ourteiy of the 1)1 Department of Education) Getting involved in your child’s education is a great way to help him or her succeed in school and life. You don’t need any special skills or training to be more active in your child’s education. Here are some ways to get involved: • Get to know your child’s teachers. • Take a tour of the school. • Attend parent-teacher conferences. • Learn about the curriculum and grading system. • Ask about your child’s talents and interests • Keep the school informed of changes in the family like gaining a new sibling, losing a pet or an impending divorce. • Volunteer to help with field trips, fundraisers, sports teams and clubs. • Join the school’s PTA. • Support your child by attending school plays, sporting events, fairs and exhibits. • Help out in the school library, cafeteria or administration office. W: rhenever a new school year begins, we naturally focus most of our attention on the children who are returning to class. Parents take their children shopping for new clothes and school supplies. Schools offer orientation sessions to get children acquainted with their school before classes start. Newspapers, billboards and TV and radio stations all feature ads reminding us to drive more carefully now that children are returning to school. What can get lost in this schooldays shuffle is that parents need to prepare for the new school year as well. The importance of a parent's involvement in a child's education can not be underestimated. "The American family is the rock on which a solid education can be built," says Richard W. Riley, U.S. Secretary of Education. "If families teach the love of learning, it can make all the difference in the world to their children." There are many ways parents can instill that love of learning in their children. Here are steps you can take to improve your children's education, as offered by the U.S. Department of Education. Read Together. Children who read at home with their parents perform better in school. Show your children how much you value reading by keeping good books, magazines and newspapers in the house. Let them see you read. Take them on trips to the library and encourage them to get library cards. Let children read to you and talk about the books. What was the book about? Why did a character act that way? What will he or she do next? Look for other ways to teach children the magic of language, words and stories. Tell stories to your children about your family and your culture. Point out words to children wherever you go~to the grocery, to the pharmacy, to the gas station. Encourage your children to write notes to grandparents and other relatives. Use TV Wisely. Academic achievement drops sharply for children who watch more than 10 hours of television a week, or an average of more than two hours a day. Parents can limit the amount of viewing and help children select educational programs. Parents can also watch and discuss shows with their kids. This will help children understand how stories are structured. Establish a daily family routine with scheduled homework time. Studies show that successful students have parents who create and maintain family routines. Make sure your child goes to school every day. Establish a regular time for homework each afternoon or evening. Set aside a quiet, well-lit place and encourage children to study. Routines generally include time performing chores, eating meals together and going to bed at an established time. 8 William Penn Life, September 1999
