How to Really Help Teachers

HOW TO HELP

YOUNG LEARNERS THRIVE

By Melissa Erickson

More Content Now T he skills children learn in elementary school build upon each other like the foundation of a house. ”The habits of the mind for a growing child — reading, writing, math, learning — all start from a young age, and there are several things parents can do at home to help in the scaffolding process,” said Pam Allyn, senior vice president of innovation and development for Scholastic Education. This “scaffolding process” is “fast and deep,” she said. “It’s really exciting to watch children, mine and others, learn. Children are always growing and learning, and they are very aware they are learners,” Allyn said.

For little learners to build a solid academic foundation, families need to focus on some big concepts along the way.

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Readiness to learn

Creating a healthy living routine can make sending a child to school ready to learn easier for busy caregivers, Allyn said.

“With a routine it becomes less of a task and more of a habit,” she said.

A nutritious breakfast fuels kids for the day and gives them the energy they need to do better in school.

Alert learners need a good night’s sleep. That’s between nine and 12 hours a night for ages 6 to 12, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Be sure to create a consistent bedtime routine on school nights.

“Wake up a couple minutes early to be ready or lay out clothes the night before,” Allyn said.

Take attendance seriously because attendance is deeply connected to engagement, she said.

Being a role model

Model and share lifelong learning, Allyn said. Allow your children to see you learning, whether that means trying a new recipe or mastering minor home repairs.

“It’s great to talk about ‘someday you could be a lawyer, a doctor or an educator,’ but it’s more exciting for children to see you as a parent as a lifelong learner,” Allyn said.

Reading together

In addition to creating a safe space for children to learn at home, parents should give kids access to a diversity of books and magazines so children can have an expansive view of themselves, Allyn said.

“Reading is opening a world of possibility not just of who you are today or what career is possible but also what kind of person you are going to be,” she said.

Sparking their curiosity

To open a world of possibilities, ask questions instead of making statements.

“Instead of saying, ‘Someday, you could be an engineer,’ create an inquiry. To ask a 7-year-old ‘What are your hopes and dreams?’ will spark some amazing conversation. We don’t give children enough chances to,” Allyn said.

Staying on track

Be sure to take time to talk to kids about what they are learning in school so they know that education is important to you, Allyn said.

Review results of state standardized tests to see if children are meeting or exceeding standards.

“The results shouldn’t be a surprise. If they are a concern, you should have a good line of communication with the teacher. Don’t ever be afraid of having a team approach, but start with the teacher,” she said.

Ask what you can be working on at home and the best ways to keep in touch, Allyn said.

Being a fan

“Have so much empathy for a child as a learner even when they stumble,” Allyn said. After a bad day or a poor grade, offer a warm embrace. Ask how you can help. Let them know you are their biggest fan.

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TALKING ABOUT RACISM WITH YOUR CHILD

By Melissa Erickson

More Content Now D on’t shy away from the topic of race because children will encounter it, sometimes even at school. “Continued education and engagement in conversations around race and white privilege are necessary in households of all races,” said Chrishane Cunningham, a postgraduate fellow at the Family Institute at Northwestern University.

Children are not too young to learn about this “slippery and elusive” topic, she said.

Many people tend to think of racism in “If they are very young, it can feel like the context of mistreatment based on skin a loss of innocence, and if they are older color and the belief in the superiority of one race over another, but racism is much it can feel like a cruel reminder of things more complex. to come,” Cunningham said.

“At its core, racism is about power and Parents should try to foster honest and prejudice,” Cunningham said. It “allows open communication with their child for one group (white Americans) to have disproportionate access to resources as well about their experience and the world as power and influence in shaping cultural around them, Cunningham said. Let chilnorms, values and institutional policies.” dren share their experience, feelings and

Because racism is pervasive and full range of emotions. systemic, it is oftentimes perpetuated inadvertently and unknowingly, for example in a lack of “Feelings such as fear, confusion, shame and anger representation in school curmay arise. It is important to riculums, Cunningham said. make sure to communicate Children of all ages can experience racism, and it can be confusing and hurtful. to them that they did nothing wrong, their feelings are valid

“It can teach them that and that they do not deserve their value is determined by “Feelings such treatment,” Cunningham the color of their skin and not by all the wonderful things they will come to offer the world,” she said. As a parent it can be a daunting task to talk with a child who has witnessed racism, Cunningham said. But racism is rooted in injustice, and this is a concept that most youth are familiar with. In discussions, using age appropriate language helps your child gain a better understanding of what they witnessed. “It may be helpful to frame the conversation such as fear, confusion, shame and anger may arise. It is important to make sure to communicate to them that they did nothing wrong, their feelings are valid and that they do not deserve such treatment.” CHRISHANE CUNNINGHAM said. “It is also an opportunity to lead/teach by example. The best thing you can do for your child is be an advocate for them and teach them how to advocate for themselves.” Help them through the process of reporting the offense and looking into restorative justice opportunities or helping them find a trusted and trained professional, such as a school social worker or therapist to process their around an ‘unfairness’ or experience. ‘wrong’ they experienced,” “Ultimately, it is important Cunningham said. Ask questions like “Has there ever been a time where you felt people treated you unfairly?,” “Did to help your child learn to talk about their experience and how it makes them anyone help or stand up for you?,” “If feel while ensuring that they know they not, what did that feel like?” and “How do not have to handle such encounters would you have helped a friend in a similar situation?” These questions can help a child gain alone,” Cunningham said. For more resources including book, empathy and a better idea of how to movie and podcast lists, check out navigate future encounters, Cunningpb-resources.com, which was created ham said. It is also a great time to share with your child your personal experiences by New York University student Alexis Williams. and struggles with racist encounters. “I encourage people to look up orgaHearing your struggles and steps nizations within their community that towards allyship — including your mistakes — can be illuminating for their personal journeys, she said. are working to spark positive changes, as they are often loaded with informa

If your child has been the target of tion and resources that directly impact racism, it can be very difficult to cope. your community,” Cunningham said.

HOW TO REALLY

HELP TEACHERS

By Melissa Erickson

More Content Now

P

arents and teachers have one main thing in common: They both want children to succeed. From donating supplies to sending kids to school ready to learn, there are plenty of things that teachers want parents to know.

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Do what you can

“When I taught elementary school, I loved having help from parents,” said Cindy McKinley Alder, a teacher from Milford, Michigan, author of ”One Smile and One Voice” and coauthor of “365 Teacher Secrets for Parents.”

“Help can come in so many different forms. Some parents have the time and energy to come in a few times a week to help with whole-class activities. Others prefer occasionally working with kids one-on-one. Some like to come in but would rather help with checking papers. Parents can also pitch in from home to help prepare school projects such as assisting with book orders. Help is always welcome,” Alder said.

One of the best things parents can do to make a teacher’s job easier is to send kids to school ready to learn, Alder said. A well-rested, well-fed child who comes prepared with homework and supplies will be in a better position.

Be a role model

“We’ve all heard the famous adage, ‘Actions speak louder than words,’ but how often do we take it to heart? Children are like sponges, and they’re learning all the time. This is why it’s so important to model the behaviors you want from your children,” said Lisa McGrath, a high school teacher and mentor in Olympia, Washington.

“Take action: Read something every day, take a class, learn a new skill, and show — don’t tell — your children how important being a lifelong learner really is. The simple investment of time, curiosity and practice has the ability to transform your life, and you’re worth it,” she said.

“Teachers would love it if what they were doing in the classroom was reinforced at home. Knowing her students are reading and writing at home on a regular basis would make any teacher happy,” Alder said.

Make a donation

Supplies are always a welcome gift. Teachers need tissues, pencils, new markers, sanitizing wipes and more. It’s simple to find what a teacher is in need of: Just ask, Alder said.

Don’t just drop by to talk

At some point most parents will need to contact their child’s teacher with regular questions or in an emergency, so it is helpful for teachers to recommend the best way to communicate.

“Parents need to know that teachers are so busy and often don’t have time for drop-in conversations. Email is great because it gives both parties time to think before responding,” Alder said.

Be proactive

Some schools may move to virtual learning in the fall, which presents its own challenges. Start the new school year on the right foot by expressing concerns before there is a real problem, said developmental psychologist Erin O’Connor, a professor at New York University and a mother of two daughters. “Even though we’re all going through the same crisis, we have different resources at hand. What if a teacher doesn’t have a strong enough internet to do a virtual class live? Then a parent could offer to run a live book group with a small group so that children still have a chance to have real-time interaction,” O’Connor said.

Have a safe learning space

Be intentional about the space you choose where your child will regularly engage in online learning or studying, said Dr. Kevin Corsini, president of San Diego Christian College. Ask yourself whether a student learns best in the solitude of home or in the midst of others at a local coffee shop.

“Everyone is wired uniquely. Figure out what works best for you and get to that spot each week for your class. Having a consistent location for your online class will help create a physical framework for learning and lead to a more enjoyable experience,” he said.

STOP DENYING CHILDREN THEIR RIGHT TO LEARN ONLINE

Some Missouri school districts are spending thousands of taxpayer dollars on costly litigation to prevent families from enrolling in a tuitionfree, full-time online school that allows their child to learn safely at home.

These districts have ignored enrollment requests for months, violated state law by wrongfully denying other request, and even forced a child and parent to testify under oath to defen d their legal right to choose an online school.

THENATIONALCOALITION FOR PUBLICSCHOOLOPTIONSCAN HELP.

If you’ve been denied your legal right to enroll your child in an online school, call us:

1-866-491-1486