I heard an educator speak very harshly to a combative young person recently. No, let me tell the truth, he cursed the tumultous teenager who is still but a child. I am in no way saying the student was right. However, this is my response to that educator and others like him.

There is power to transform live in the your tongue. Don’t let the tongue set yours off. With knowledge comes the ability to use it in positive and constructive ways. Also, with knowledge comes the ability to reflect on past mistakes and the strength to correct them. As we prepare ourselves to have a positive impact on our students this year, remember that we also prepare them for life. It is difficult to keep your composure when faced with a hostile child who verbally abuses so easily. It is not at all easy, for me either, to try to help a young person who has learned to want so little. I am not saying that when faced with a young person cussing you and calling every foul name in the book is an easy autrocity to stomach. I am not saying it is easy to keep from lashng back. I am saying that since we are the adults, since we are really the one with the upper hand, since we are the ones who are suppose to be patient and forgiving; that it up to us as individuals in individual situations to NEVER stoop to a level of alter-abuse.

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Literacy Update

In my reading recently, I ran across this tidbit of information. You will never guess where it came from. The thing that will stun you most, is when it was written.

“Most children in school fail. For a great many, this
failure is avowed and absolute. Close to forty percent of
those who begin high school, drop out before they finish. For
college, the figure is one in three.

But there is a more important sense in which almost all
children fail: Except for a handful, who may or may not be
good students, they fail to develp more than a tiny part of the
tremendous capacity for learning, understanding, and creating
with which they were born and of which they made full use
during the first two or theree years of their lives. Why do thy
fail? They fail because they are afraid, bored and confused.”

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There is tons of research proving that a child is better equipped to succeed in school when his or her parents are actively involved in the learning process. Here are 10 tips to ensure your child does well this school year.

1. Spend time with your children. They want and need your time more than they need the expensive ‘things’ many parents spend on them.

2. Keep in contact with your child’s teacher via email, phone calls, notes, or in person. Be consistent. Let teachers and school staff know you care. Make sure they are equipped with all supplies they need for the day.

3. Help with homework or check homework regularly. Even if your child doesn’t have homework, make sure he or she studies each subject 20-30 minutes dependent upon the ease of the subject.

4. Make sure your child reads outside of school and homework time. One hour is good for middle schoolers, two hours for high school students and 30 minutes for elementary school students is appropriate.

5. Cut out excessive, phone, television, and video game time.

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