EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
Education
|
||||
|
Exit exam by the numbers The statewide high school exit exam is in place and in force for June graduates. Pressure has been building on State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell to modify, delay or do away with the exam, as thousands of would-be graduates have failed to pass it in early testing. O’Connell recently reiterated that he will not recommend or support any alternative assessments to the current exit exam; passage is required to receive a diploma. “I am convinced that the only way to make sure all of our graduates have the critical skills they need in adulthood is through requiring passage of the high school exit exam.” O’Connell wrote the law creating the High School Exit Exam in 1999 to address the problem of schools across the state having widely disparate standards for what students were learning and what constituted graduation requirements. Here is how students have fared in the local areas: - In Orange County, some 73% of seniors have passed the math portion and 72% the English language portion. - In Riverside County, 61% of those who have taken the test passed in math; 63% passed in English. - In San Bernardino County, 59% passed in match; 63% passed in English., according to O’Connell’s office. A successful kindergarten career begins long before your child recites the Pledge of Allegiance on her first day of school. Planning ahead to give your child a leg up on this big transition can help set the groundwork for academic enjoyment. While it’s an exciting time, kindergarten, at least in the first few days, can also involve plenty of stress and anxiety. And these days, the jump in educational expectations for youngsters is adding more tension to the transition. Kindergarten is no longer a place for 2-a-day naps and crayon colors. “It is true that kindergarten classes are becoming more academic than they were in the past,” says Dr. Richard E. Bavaria, vice president of education at Sylvan Learning Center. “There are many parts of the current-kind curricula that in previous years you probably would have found in first-grade classes. I think the most important thing parents can take out of this is not to panic. My first words of advice would be ‘lighten up.’ If you’re stressed about school, then your child is going to be stressed about school. The last thing children need is stress about school.” Judith Wood, director of the UC Riverside Child Development Center, has encouraging news for parents. “While kindergarten may seem different today than it was 20 years ago, the same criteria will support school success today as it did then,” she says. That means parents already have experience with what it takes to succeed in today’s classrooms: academic readiness, independence, and communication and social skills. We’ve gathered lots of ideas on preparing your children for kindergarten so they can put their best foot forward when taking this exciting new step: An academic foundation: Reading is key, and we explore that skill in greater detail below. But it isn’t the only thing needed for preparation. Wood recommends a variety of academic activities. You can work on these at home or choose a preschool to reinforce them. If you use outside childcare, she recommends finding an environment that promotes learning through play with interesting activities. Help your child learn colors by pointing and naming each object along with the color name, such as red apple or yellow banana: Provide your child with puzzles and games that involve counting and problem-solving. Prepare her for kinder-crafting by giving her time to play with paper, paste, pencils, crayons and scissors. Show her how to hold the pencil and scissors correctly. Make time for your child to play outdoors where she can run, jump and climb. Take her to the grocery store, post office or other places that provide experience in the surrounding community. Hit the books: Experts agree you should make sure your child grows up in a home where reading is important. “The greatest gift we can give to a child in the family they’re growing up in is a family that respects reading and education,” says Dr. Bavaria. “You know your child well, you know their interests and motivations well. Especially when the child is very young, indulge your child in those interests and show them you can read to learn about these interests and motivations. Show them reading, writing and math are important to adults in the family as well.” Check out your local bookstore or search online for books about starting kindergarten: The National Education Association (www.nea.org) recommends several titles, including “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” by Nancy Carlson. Resources The Parenting section of the National Education Association’s website (www.nea.org/parents) has several education guides for families, including “Raising Ready Readers,” “Helping Your Child Learn to Read,” “Raising a Scientifically Literate Children” and “Helping Your Child with Today’s Math.” Books “Mrs. Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten,” by Joseph Slate, Ashley Wolff “ The Night Before Kindergarten,” by Natasha Wing, Julie Durrell “ Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” by Nancy Carlson “ What Do We Say? What Do We Do? Vital Solutions for Children’s Educational Success and Creating Positive Home School Connections,” by Dorothy Rich Source: National Education Association Look for outside help: As schools around the country raise the academic bar for kindergartners, more families than ever are turning to professional tutoring centers to help their child prepare a year or so before kindergarten. Social know-how: “It is important to encourage children to consider the feelings of others, to finish a difficult or frustrating task, to play with other children, to take turns, and how to express feelings in a positive manner, with these behaviors modeled by the parent,” Wood says. “This teaches a child about rules and the consequences for breaking them.” She also recommends that parents discourage hitting, biting, screaming and other negative behaviors. I can do it! Encouraging your child to be independent will help him sail into his new classroom with confidence. Wood recommends allowing the child to dress himself and put on his own shoes. Practice makes perfect: Kindergarten brings new routines and schedules. Several weeks before your child starts school, begin waking her up at the time she’ll need to get up for school. Help her get dressed and eat well before you need to leave for school. If she’s going to be taking the bus, make it a habit to walk by the bus stop around pick-up time a few weeks before the big day. Everything won’t seem quite so strange…or scary…that first day if you’ve been practicing your morning routine for a while. Check it out: Becoming familiar with the campus and classroom can ease anxiety – both yours and your child’s. Start by requesting an enrollment packet from the school and find out key dates. Kindergarten teachers often hold an Open House during spring, or you can ask to schedule a personal tour of your child’s new school before the first day of classes. Back to basics: Capistrano Unified School District offers several tips on preparing your child for success every day. Many may sound simple, but they can make a big impact. Lupe Martinez, director of child development programs for the district, says two of her favorites are: Making sure your child is well fed and rested, and encouraging your child to behave positively. Other tips include giving your child opportunities to play with other children and taking time to talk with them about work they bring home from school. Function over fashion: Back-to-school shopping can be a treat at this age. Make sure to select clothing that is comfortable and easy to move around in. Kindergartners are up and down all day, playing and working in and outside the classroom. Layering is also a good approach, with a jacket for the cool mornings but lighter clothing underneath for recess time. Make sure to clearly label all your child’s belongings so they are easy to locate at the end of the day. Lighten up: It’s worth repeating in this age of academic pressures. Start with the fingerpainting set and continue through college. School should set the stage for a lifetime of learning. Jennifer Leuer of Orange is an education reporter. |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This ArticleSEARCH THE SITE
