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 The good news is that we seem to be on the brink of some major changes. While nationwide test scores continue to struggle, we realize that education as it stands today needs significant improvement. Regardless of how it is defined (a teaching gap or a learning gap), there is a chasm between how teachers are teaching and how kids are learning – and the two go hand in hand. This gap can be attributed to everything from overcrowded classrooms and limited resources to outdated teaching methods and the increasing pressure of standardized tests. Let’s focus on our role as parents and what can we do to help our kids become better learners. > Get involved. Children whose parents help them at home and stay in touch with the school usually score higher than children of disinterested parents. To be effective, parents need to educate themselves first. By being aware of the bigger picture – such as state and district objectives right down to the academic focus of the classroom – parents can build a context for their child’s learning. Meet with the principal and teacher on a regular basis. Approach them with a cooperative spirit. As much as possible, parents should also try to attend school functions and volunteer in some capacity. Kids look to us as models for what’s important and are aware that we spend our time doing what we love. If you volunteer at the school each week or are going to weekly PTA meetings, this communicates a respect for education. > Study and understand your child. In order for your child to fulfill her learning potential, it’s critical to know her strengths and weaknesses. Get her teacher’s perspective, and ask your child what she feels she excels at and what she needs to work on. Ask your child’s teacher for resources to support those strength areas, and address weaknesses. Keep in mind that learning is not one-size-fits-all, so figure out what strategies your child uses to learn. When he has an assignment, how does he approach it? If he writes out his spelling words several times for review, then he’s probably a visual learner; some young students who prefer to, say, jump rope while reciting a spelling list might be a kinesthetic learner. Or perhaps your child is more auditory and prefers to listen to explanations and studies by reciting things out loud. Knowing and understanding your child’s learning style can reduce homework frustration and improve achievement. And it is great information to share with his teacher. Make home an extension of the classroom. Teaching isn’t just the job of the teacher, and learning doesn’t just take place at school. The average U.S. student spends about 180 days per year in school, versus up to 240 school days in many other countries. So, the home environment is important for learning. Helping our kids make connections is critical to conceptual learning. If you are aware of what is happening in the classroom, ask yourself what you can do in just a few minutes to reinforce what the school is doing. Create your own extension homework that takes into account what your kids are learning in school, and apply it to new situations. Here are some great ways to extend your child’s coursework at home: > A family garden is a great place to study science, agriculture and nutrition. > Cooking is a great way to work on planning, following directions, making predictions and enhancing science and math skills. > Build spelling and vocabulary skills by having everyone grab 10 scrabble tiles and see who can make the best word. > Have a “shape treasure hunt.” Write the name of shapes on pieces of paper, then everyone has to go find an item in that shape; the first one to find all theirs wins. > Stimulate their intellect and curiosity with trips to the zoo, museums and hiking trails. Check Web sites for traveling exhibits that might tie in to your school’s curriculum. > Start a mother-child book club with the kids in your child’s class or friends in the neighborhood. Let the kids choose the book and lead the discussion. > When reading aloud to your child, pause often and ask her what she thinks will happen next. After you’ve finished, ask her to write or create an alternate ending. > For young children just learning numbers and letters, choose a number or letter of the week. Integrate this letter into everyday activities, like pointing out items that begin with that letter. > When your child is studying history, help her create a timeline of events in her room or a playroom. Then have your child add significant events in her own life. Continue adding historical events as they happen. •> SMART MOM GOES GREEN: AN ECO-CHIC SATCHEL Susan Nichole owns a company that really takes the “triple bottom line” to heart. In all her business dealings while making animal- and earth-friendly bags, she remains mindful of profit, people and the planet. Her bags are constructed using 100 percent cruelty-free and vegan-friendly materials that are biodegradable and recyclable. And, the company regularly gives back: Each week, 10 percent of online sales are donated to charitable organizations such as the ASPCA or PETA. Your own heart is sure to grow 10 times bigger when you read Nichole’s story and check out the Love Bag. This super-fun and funky bag comes in mustard and hot pink. It will look great on your arm this season, and the warm fuzzies will be felt from head to toe! $85; use code OCFamily for $15 off. susannichole.com •> SOLUTION OF THE MONTH: GRAB A BOOK! We want our kids to become avid readers. But in order to instill this habit, pleasure reading needs to be a priority for the whole family. Why not start a weekend tradition – Grab A Book, or GAB, time. Maybe it’s just after breakfast on a Saturday morning or a lazy Sunday afternoon, whatever time works for your family to dedicate a quiet hour to reading. Make a big deal of it and set the stage the night before – let kids choose where they want to read, and set up their own special reading nook. Get cozy and stock their area with lots of juicy reading materials – fiction and non-fiction, newspapers and magazines. If you have little ones, give them plenty of picture books to flip through or read to them, so that they are participating in the tradition and eagerly await the day when they read their own books! •> Need more Smart Mom solutions? Go to smartmomsolutions.com or listen to Mom Talk Radio: momtalkradio.com. |
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