Back to School Night: Monday, 12th September

With school kicking off, Back to School night is one of the most important nights of the year. You get to meet the teacher for the first time, see the classroom, and fuel your child’s enthusiasm for school‒setting the tone for a positive year ahead!

Your time with the teacher is QUICK, typically only 30 minutes, so use these tips to get the most out of this important (and fun) evening.

 

Back to School Night Tips

1. Get a sitter. If your school doesn’t provide child care, arrange for a babysitter. Back to School Night is usually for parents, not kids.
2. Arrive early to get a parking spot and make it to the room on time.
3. Ask questions that are pertinent to the entire class such as homework expectations, parental support needed during the year, or questions related to upcoming class projects or units of study. Questions about your child’s circumstances or special needs should be addressed privately with the teacher.
4. Think about what kind of volunteer job you would like to have this year. If you’re extra busy, opt to be a classroom reader or help with a weekend activity like the school garden or a fundraiser. Do you have a more flexible schedule? Consider a weekly volunteer spot helping with math stations or art projects. Those who like to plan parties and coordinate people will make a perfect Room Mom. Have a special skill to share like computers, music or science? Tell the teacher that you’re willing to pitch-in for an enriching year! Remember the specialist teachers -- art, music, PE, spanish -- need help too!
5. Bring an open mind. The same qualities that make the teacher great with kids don’t necessarily make her great with adults. Your teacher may be nervous with an entire room full of parents. Be patient and understanding as you listen to the year’s game plan.
6. Find your child's desk and leave a note. Your child will squeal with delight when they find a friendly note from Mom or Dad the next morning. Think something simple like, “It was fun meeting your teacher. I know you’ll have a great year!”
7. Exit swiftly. Tomorrow is a school day and as much as they loved meeting you, your children’s teachers would appreciate getting home and getting ready for the next day.

Back to School Night strategies for parents with multiple kids in the same school

1. Divide and conquer. Split up the classroom visits.
2. If an older sibling had the same teacher, consider visiting another time to check in.
3. Watch the clock. Divide time evenly between classrooms.
4. If you’re going to miss a teacher or can only visit briefly, send the teacher a quick email explaining why and ask for copies of handouts shared with parents.

Based on an article from http://livesmart.usaweekend.com/ 

Investment in Summer Learning Programs Can Stem Students' Cumulative Learning Loss

The loss of knowledge and educational skills during the summer months is cumulative over the course of a student's career and further widens the achievement gap between low- and upper-income students, according to a RAND Corporation study issued June 13, 2011.

The study confirms that students who attend summer programs can disrupt the educational loss and do better in school than peers who do not attend the same programs.

"Despite long-term efforts to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged and advantaged students, low-income students continue to perform at considerably lower levels than their higher-income peers, particularly in reading," said Jennifer McCombs, study co-author and a senior policy researcher at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "Instruction during the summer has the potential to stop summer learning losses and propel students toward higher achievement."

The study, commissioned by The Wallace Foundation and conducted by RAND Education, is the most comprehensive research on summer learning to date. Using extensive analysis of existing literature combined with field research, the study examines student summer learning loss and gain, the characteristics of effective summer learning programs and the costs associated with such programs.

It also gives specific recommendations on how school districts can overcome barriers to establishing successful programs.

"It is becoming increasingly clear that the conventional six-hour, 180-day school year is insufficient to give many disadvantaged students the education they deserve," said Nancy Devine, director of communities at The Wallace Foundation. "This long-awaited and timely RAND study, 'Making Summer Count,' confirms the disproportionate impact of the 'summer slide' on low-income students, and suggests that high-quality summer learning programs, though challenging to develop, are a promising path forward."

Researchers find that not all summer learning programs provide equal educational benefits to students. Moreover, many programs suffer from low attendance. Researchers find that students experience the most benefits when the summer programs include individualized instruction, parental involvement and small class sizes.

Despite the clear benefits from these programs, according to the study, many school districts question the cost-effectiveness of summer learning programs and a significant number have discontinued them as a result of budget cuts.

While a day of summer instruction costs less than a day of instruction during the school year, summer learning programs are an additional cost. The researchers found that cost is the main barrier to implementing and sustaining summer programs.

"One way school districts can make summer learning programs affordable and more effective is by partnering with community-based organizations," said co-author Catherine Augustine, a senior policy researcher at RAND. "They are often less expensive than school district staff, and they offer enrichment opportunities that are often similar to those experienced by middle-income youth during the summer — such as kayaking or chess, for example — that encourage students to enroll and attend, both of which are critical to program effectiveness."

Researchers make several recommendations for school districts and community leaders to plan and develop summer learning programs, including:

•Invest in highly qualified staff and early planning. The more-successful providers developed well-structured programs that attract students to enroll and attend, and they recruited quality, dedicated staff with time to devote to planning and programming.
•Apply "best practices" to summer learning programs, such as providing smaller class sizes, getting parents involved, giving individual instruction and promoting maximum attendance.
•Give strong consideration to partnerships, which enable the creation and sustainment of high-quality voluntary summer learning programs. Various organizations offer different sets of resources and skills that can bolster a summer learning program. Partners may include community-based organizations, private summer learning providers, and city and local governments.
•Think creatively about funding sources, such as hiring AmeriCorps members and hiring teachers who need administrative hours as summer-site coordinators. There are more than 100 funding sources that can support summer learning programs.
Researchers also recommend that policymakers at the federal, state and local levels continue funding summer learning programs, and clarify the extent to which existing funding sources can be allocated toward summer programs.

"Summertime offers an opportunity to help bridge the achievement gap and the opportunity gap," McCombs said. "Summer learning programs can give students the chance to master material they did not learn in the previous school year, prevent learning loss, propel learning gains and provide low-income students with enrichment opportunities similar to those experienced by their middle-income peers."

The full report, "Making Summer Count: How Summer Programs Can Boost Children's Learning," is available at www.rand.org and www.wallacefoundation.org.

RAND Education, a division of the RAND Corporation, is a leader in providing objective, high-quality research and analysis on educational challenges that is used to improve educational access, quality and outcomes in the United States and throughout the world.

Does Your Elementary Schooler Hate to Read?

Does Your Elementary Schooler Hate to Read?
6 Solutions to Inspire Reading
by Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed.
Source: Educational Connections Inc.

Many parents of reluctant young readers have tried rewarding, cajoling, and sometimes in the end, giving up simply because their child refuses to read for pleasure. So, what's the trick to get your child to open up a book? The first thing you need to know is that reading comes in all forms, not just in the traditional books that the school has suggested.

Be a Detective
The first step is figuring out what interests your child. Does your son love baseball? Looking at stats on baseball cards and reading the brief descriptions of each player is definitely reading. And so are the articles contained in Sports Illustrated for Kids. Once you get your child hooked, take it one step further by finding related books on the subject. For your baseball-loving boy, consider one of the books in the Matt Christopher series. He's a great author who writes engaging, easy-to-read books about every sport imaginable.

Delve Into a Series
Even the most reluctant readers will latch on to a series such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid or will engage in the short passages of The Guinness Book of World Records. It's important not to worry so much about whether or not the book is a classic or even good literature. The point is to get the child reading. And quite often, when a child enjoys a book, he'll seek out the next book in the series or another title by the same author.

Reread a Favorite Book
Interestingly, comprehension and fluency are boosted when the student reads books slightly below his current reading level. If your child tends to gravitate towards easier books, allow him to do so. Moreover, students improve their reading fluency when they read a passage or book three times. Repeated readings help with automaticity, not just at that time, but down the road as well.

Use the 5 Finger Rule
Some parents often make the mistake of choosing a book for their child that is just above grade level. If you're not sure if the book is too difficult, use the five finger rule. If your child mispronounces five or more words on one page, the book is too hard. If he misses four words, reading will be a challenge, but can be done. In this case, it's wise for the parent to read two pages, the child to read one, and so on. Children will find more enjoyment in reading when you use this 2:1 ratio. If only two or three mistakes are made, the book is at the child's interest level and is a-okay. And when your youngster can read an entire page perfectly, the book is likely a bit too easy, but for some very reluctant readers, that is perfectly fine.

Unplug the Electronics
The last step to getting your child to read is to carve out time each evening for reading. That means turn off the television, put down your Blackberry, and have your child put away his cell phone, Nintendo DS, or whatever draws his attention. Even fifteen or twenty minutes before bedtime is enough time to instill the love of reading.

Relax and Read without Criticizing
During this time, lie down in bed with your child or children, relax, and read aloud. Take turns, laugh together, and enjoy the moment. As much as possible, do not correct your child's mistakes unless they detract from the meaning of the story. As soon as kids feel pressured or judged, they're less willing to read. When your child begins to associate reading with evening relaxation and the fun of delving into a page-turning book, he'll be more likely to read independently and for pleasure later on.

Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed., is the founder and president of Educational Connections, Inc., a tutoring, test prep, and consulting company in Fairfax, VA and Bethesda, MD. In her new book, Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, Dolin offers proven solutions to help the six key types of students who struggle with homework. Numerous examples and easy-to-implement, fun tips will help make homework less of a chore for the whole family. Learn more at anndolin.com or ectutoring.com.

We helped to "Build the Reef" at Terraset!

There were many wonderful things to do at this year's Earth Day Carnival, but one of the most lasting was to join in the "Build the Reef" project offered by two wonderful artists, Karen Mullarkey and Ursula Griessel, from the League of Reston Artists.

They have described all at Me, Upcycled. We hope they can join us again next year!

Parents: What if your child is a bully?

Connect for Respect is National PTA’s New Initiative that Provides Parents with Tools to Combat and Help Prevent Bullying

ALEXANDRIA, VA. (March 10, 2011) – National PTA® today launched Connect for Respect—a bullying prevention campaign. Today’s launch coincides with the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention. National PTA will join the President and First Lady the Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services at the event with students, parents, teachers and others. The conference will bring together communities from across the nation to talk about working together to prevent bullying.

From describing what bullying is, to how to ensure your child doesn’t become a bully, PTA offers five tip sheets on bullying prevention and more at www.PTA.org/bullying. The site also shows PTA leaders how to create a Connect for Respect event and how to advocate for policies and practices that create a safe school climate for all children.

“PTAs have always played pivotal roles in creating a safe school and community climate but it’s time to step it up because bullying is not just happening on playgrounds anymore. It’s happening everywhere; online, via text, and on social networks. And parents may not know that it’s happening or what to do about it,” said Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors, National PTA President.

National PTA will urge its five million PTA leaders and members to get involved in bullying prevention in their communities by hosting a Connect for Respect event and sharing new resources with parents about bullying, like what to do if your child is a bully.

“Even one child being bullied is one too many. That’s why we created Connect for Respect, to help address the issue and help our grassroots take action on it. By working together, educators, parents, concerned citizens, business leaders, advocates and community members can support the implementation of bullying prevention programs, reinforce bullying prevention messages, and advocate for bullying policies to be implemented.”

About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.

Additional Reading
Signs your child may be a bully

Eat Right with Color!

CHICAGO - When it comes to food and nutrition, even the most knowledgeable parents can use help making sure their children are eating healthy meals. Each March, the American Dietetic Association celebrates National Nutrition Month®, and this year's theme, "Eat Right with Color," encourages parents to take time to make sure their children are getting all of the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. The good news is that shopping, cooking and eating healthfully have just gotten easier with assistance from www.kidseatright.org, a new website from ADA and its Foundation.

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recently reported that children, teens and adults have diets deficient in dietary fiber, vitamin D, calcium and potassium, and the Kids Eat Right campaign calls for increased attention to the alarming nutrient deficiencies in children's diets.

"Weight is not the only measure of good nutrition and health. Any child — whether they are of normal weight, overweight or obese — can be undernourished," says registered dietitian Dr. Katie Brown, national education director for the American Dietetic Association Foundation.

"Quality nutrition requires a total diet approach that goes beyond calorie counting alone, to focus on including those nutrients critical for a child's healthy growth and development," Brown says. "This year's National Nutrition Month theme is a great reminder for parents to focus on that total diet approach by including a variety of foods and colors in every meal, every day."

Brown offers the following guidance for helping your kids "Eat Right with Color":

• Give kids whole-grain cereals for breakfast, kid-friendly "white" whole-wheat bread for sandwiches, crunchy whole-grain crackers for snacks and whole-grain pastas for dinner.


• Eat more fruits and vegetables at every meal. At breakfast, enjoy fresh or frozen berries on cereal, slices of melon or a glass of 100 percent orange juice; at lunch, serve baby carrots or sliced apples; for dinner, put brightly colored vegetables at the center of every plate.


• Most young people in America are not getting enough calcium or potassium. Fortunately, it's easy to consume the three daily dairy servings children and teens need. Try an 8-ounce glass of low-fat milk with breakfast, lunch and dinner; yogurt parfaits for breakfast or an after-school snack; or string cheese for an on-the-go energy snack.


• Getting enough protein at every meal and snack helps kids feel satisfied after eating. Start their day with egg or bean burritos. For snacks, provide peanut butter or sliced deli meat.
  

Designed around a SHOP, COOK and EAT theme, the Kids Eat Right website provides parents with practical tips, articles, videos and recipes from registered dietitians to help families shop smart, cook healthy and eat right.

Interactive kids games for National Nutrition Month will be available, including:

• Sudoku: Tackle these popular puzzles using food rather than numbers.


• Word Search: Find the words that represent the bold and vibrant colors associated with eating right!


• Rate Your Plate Quiz: Find out how you rate when it comes to making daily meal choices.

Whether speaking with a registered dietitian about essential nutrients and healthier cooking, or visiting http://www.kidseatright.org/ for tips and recipes, Kids Eat Right provides families with knowledge as well as ideas and tools to transform their eating behaviors.