TAKING YOUR KIDS FROM GOOD TO GREAT: WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S DREAMS Raising a child is one of the greatest joys in life, and also one of the most challenging and difficult. As a parent you do all the things you were told to do keep the child fed and get them off to school every day for their education. Raising a child is not cheap but the worst place to skim from the top is with their education. There are some very affordable and necessary things parents can do to make sure your child is thriving inside and outside of the classroom. No judgement here, but do you really know what is going on in your child’s classroom? Have your checked their homework? Do you make sure to attend at least one parent teacher conference, or send an email, or note in with your child to school requesting specific information and feedback about your child? Relying on someone else (like the public education system) to do this job that you were made to do could be the one thing hindering your child from meeting their true greatness. Statistically the numbers speak for themselves. Black and brown children lag behind in many of the factors 59
that are studied. Suspension rates, retention rates are highest among our students. Math and reading levels are also very concerning. We have to do better to ensure that our children are able to represent the dreams and hopes that you have for your child and what your child may have for themselves. As an educator, I must tell you the first step is to establish open lines of communication with your child’s school as much as possible. Do not ignore this step. Make an effort to connect with your local school so that you can hear about your child’s strengths and areas where improvement can be made. The earlier you have this knowledge the sooner you can take action as needed. If those options are not doable. Start by talking to your child. Ask them to teach you one new concept they learned in school today. Make sure to have them explain as much as possible in detail by asking questions that do not allow for one word answers. For example, a follow up question to what was your favorite lesson in school today? Could be why they thought it was a good lesson and how they might be able to use their new skills in the future. This helps children make connections between the classroom and the real world, and you.
