How Good is Your Child's Elementary School? Let's Put Your Mind at Ease

A common topic parents have brought up in my recent travels is the concern for the quality of the education or the clientele at the neighborhood elementary school. Should they look into other schools if the campus is old and the school doesn't have the latest equipment? If the school scores less than 8 or 9, does that make it a bad school? Will kids get a good education if they don't go to a magnet or charter school?

Do these 5 things, and you won't have to worry about your child's elementary school!

1. Read to your child daily, or make sure that from about third grade on, your child reads independently (Read novels together with older kids. It will give you something interesting to talk about, give you insights into how your child thinks, provide a good model, and bring you closer. My 15-year old and I still read novels aloud to each other, and we're both avid readers!)
2. Keep tabs on homework to make sure your child completes assignments on time.
3. Review schoolwork and homework with your child to correct mistakes.
4. Get the run-down on your child's day at school every day. Details! Gimme Details!
5. Find out what themes your child's class is working on at school and do things to support those themes at home.

• Are the kids studying plants? Take them to a nursery. Shine a flashlight under a lettuce leaf to look at the veins. Put apple seeds in a clear glass against a wet paper towel to watch the seeds sprout. Go to kidzui.com, click on your child's grade level, and check out websites on plants.

William Bowen, a former president of Princeton University, author of Crossing the Finish Line, found that the schools kids go to has much less to do with whether a child will graduate from college some day than high school grades - from ANY school! Students with 3.0 grade point averages or better in high school have a much greater chance at getting a degree than peers with lower grades. Bowen says kids with higher grades do better at the university level because they have the ability to finish projects, and they have the necessary study skills.

Do the five things I mentioned above and start developing good study skills and a sense of responsibility toward schoolwork now to nurture successful, well-educated children.

Sleep: The magical back-to-school ingredient to ensure a great start in a new grade

Most of us are coming down the summertime home stretch. We're getting ready to send our kids with fresh backpacks to the next grade. Some parents are great about keeping the sleep routine in tact over the vacation months, but for most of us, the school sleep routine has gone out the window.

Follow these easy steps to get that all-important snooze time back on track and avoid that annoying back-to-school head cold.

1) Help your child adjust to an earlier bedtime a few nights before school starts. A lot of kids (and teachers) are too nervous and excited to sleep the night before a new school year begins anyway.

(Check out http://www.kaboose.com/features/hallmark-backtoschool/ to read about back-to- school anxiety.)

2) Get into some serious exercise in the late afternoon. Take your kids swimming, have them help you wash the cars and squirt them with the hose, or play a game of soccer in the park. Do anything you can think of to wear them out.

3) Draw a relaxing bath (and try not to feel too jealous). Your child will not only wash off the sweat or chlorine, but you will set the stage for winding down the day. My sister-in-law used to say, "If a kid gets cranky, put 'em in water." And let's face it, grumpy kids are often tired kids.

4) Start the bedtime ritual about a half hour earlier each night until you reach your school-year zzz-time hour.

Plopping kids into bed too early when they're not used to it makes most kids restless and frustrated, not sleepy.

5) Snuggle and read a book together. If you have gotten out of the evening reading habit over the summer, this is an effective way to get the younger set back into the routine for school. For those who have kept up the reading ritual, bravo! Start a half hour earlier, and your good to go.

6) Turn on a fan during these last several warm evenings for white noise or play soft music. In just a few days, playing the same sound will lull your little one to sleep.

7) Be firm. Tell your child that once the lights go out, he has to stay in bed (barring an injury or nightmare jitters that need soothing). If a face peeks around the corner, walk him back to bed, give hugs and kisses, and leave the room. Consistency now will make bedtime a happy time to look forward to all year.

Back to School Helpful Websites

For many of us, it's time to get ready for the new school year. Check out these websites to get your child's education started off on the right foot.


When is best to start YOUR little one in kindergarten?
Birthdays make a difference, and it's much more individual than you might think. Find out what the studies say about state cutoff dates and student achievement. Get answers from pediatrician Gretchen Gainor at Children's Clinic in La Jolla, California. Read about parents' and kids' personal experiences with being one of the youngest kids in class versus waiting a year to start school or "redshirting" to be one of the oldest.

"Too Young for Kindergarten? Assessing the impact of early school enrollment"

San Diego Family Magazine, August 2009

http://trendmag2.trendoffset.com/publication/?i=19868&p=34


Do you want to have a great working relationship with your child's new teacher?
Check this link out for quick, helpful how-tos.

"Ten Ways Parents Can Foster Positive Relationships with Teachers"

National Parent Teacher Association

http://www.pta.org/3369.htm


Here's an excellent place to find FRESH IDEAS for PARENTAL SUPPORT for kids as well as some good reminders.

"100 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in School"
http://www.pta.org/100Ways_brochure-en.pdf
Printable brochure: National Parent Teacher Association


Do you have a wiggly and/or distracted kid?This article is helpful whether your child has been diagnosed with AD(H)D or not.

"10 Easy Ways to Start the School Year Right"

ADDitude Magazine

(By the way, this is the most positive, helpful magazine and website I've found for dealing with attention deficit disorders.)

http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe6716707361067d7111&m=fef016767c6c02&ls=fdf610797564077a70167977&l=fec513757664017b&s=fdf615717061047473107877&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe2816737c67047a771376


If you have other websites you'd like to share to help parents out in starting the new year, please leave a comment and post them!

Hot Tip on Wholesome Dolls

In a recent survey, 47% of African American girls preferred light skinned over dark skinned dolls. In light of this disturbing fact, I wrote an article for San Diego Family Magazine about trends in attitudes regarding race in the United States (to view "Which Doll is Prettier," visit http://www.sandiegofamily.com/, click on the July issue, and go to page 76).

In the course of my research for "Which Doll is Prettier," I had the fortune to interview Leonard Simonian, president for Only Hearts Club, a toy company that produces a multi ethnic assortment of dolls, similar to Barbie, minus the sex pot image. Simonian, father of three, decided that girls, including his own, deserved to play with fun dolls that helped to develop a positive self image. Only Hearts Club dolls look and dress like real girls, and each has a hobby, such as horse riding, soccer or dance.

Like American Girls, each Only Hearts Club doll also has a story book that describes her life, friends, hobbies, and defines her moral character by putting her in a situation where she has to make tough choices. What could be better than giving kids another motivation to read? My girls loved reading the American Girls series, but the dolls were big and expensive, so they never made it to the toy box.

Only Hearts Club offers an entire wardrobe of darling clothes for the funloving dolls to wear as well as a bunch of other accessories. Reasonably priced, the Only Hearts Club line is available for purchase on line, at most Target and other select toy stores. For more information visit www.onlyheartsclub.com.

I wish Only Hearts Club had been around when my daughters, now in their teens, liked to play with dolls.

Happy pretending!

Book Swaps Make Better Readers - and it's economical for parents, too.

How many of us have a bunch of books lying around the house, sitting on shelves, lonely and untouched, for who knows how long? Here's a great way to get your kids all excited about reading, change the scenery on your shelves, and clean out those messy piles stacked in corners.

Hold a BOOK SWAP.

Pick a place where everyone can bring books they've already read to trade for fresh ones. The school auditorium works well. Teachers and administrators appreciate events like these, so they'll help you get the word out. Community centers, public parks, and libraries make good venues, too, anywhere kids can explore piles of books and choose a few favorites to take home and curl up with.

Here's how it works: If someone brings 5 books to trade, they can choose 5 books they haven't read yet to take home.

Book Swaps bring out the best in the younger set. Kids who bring a lot of books to trade often let other children that don't have books to swap grab a title or two in their stead.

And you don't even have to plan it if you do a little poking around to find someone else to do the legwork.

Girl and Boy Scout troops are always looking for community service projects. Most high schools require documented community service hours for students to graduate. The BOOK SWAP gives people a chance to give back to the community, and the kids love it!

Deborah Rosen, a friend of mine from Connecticut reported: "The kids just love (book swaps). The first time we did one, the kindergarten children were so excited, they (switched out books) and sat right down on the floor (where they were standing) and started reading them. It was so cute!"

BOOK SWAPS are fun, green, free, and they get kids noses back into books. What have you got to lose?

Get It In Gear: Raising mentally and physically fit kids

Looking for a resource that can build both brain and body power for your kids? I recently discovered Karen Ronney's book Proud Parents' Guide to Raising Athletic, Balanced, and Coordinated Kids. Lots of studies in recent years make the connection between physical fitness and brain power. When and where can parents get the ball rolling for their children?

Tennis pro, coach, and awesome mom, Karen Ronney, says it's never too early to play physical games with kids to help develop their bodies and minds.

It turns out, some of the stuff you have already done, such as, lively games of Peek-a-boo, popping your head up from behind the chair in the living room and clapping hands in Pat-a-cake rhythms and reciting rhymes, has already given your kids a leg up on the academic ladder.

In Proud Parents' Guide, Ronney gives parents over 200 games to play with kids, in less than 10 minutes a day, from birth to age 6. Play toss with a rolled up pair of socks and a laundry basket while you're folding clothes. Have your child stack storage containers on the kitchen floor while cooking dinner, and bowl the boxes over with a potato. Use all kinds of household items and simple play equipment that you probably already own to develop healthy bodies and nimble brains.

Ronney explains all the whys and wherefores for how games build coordination, develop "natural athletic talent" and jumpstart learning. The book is organized in two parts, the first outlining how the mind/body connection works and how kids develop athleticism and coordination. The second half lists games separated by age group, the level of difficulty, and the benefits your child will get out of playing - besides giggles and a great time.

Here's the best part: Ronney says it's never too early or too late to begin playing games with your child to get those mind and body juices flowing.

In the last couple couch potato TV and computer generations, not only have kids gotten pudgier, they've gotten slower. Schools are beginning to rediscover the physical/mental relationship and the lost art of PE, but we are a long way from regular physical exercise and practice in coordination in most elementary schools. For homeschooling parents, creating opportunities for physical fun and workouts is a must.

Check out the book on Ronney's website http://www.karenronney.com/

Whether you take a look at Proud Parents' Guide to Raising Athletic, Balanced, and Coordinated Kids or not, think of ways to support your child in being physically active. Less trips to the school nurse and more energy to make it through all the demands of the day make both parents and kids happier.

Do you have a fun idea for an activity that you like to do with your child(ren)? Be sure to share it!

Correction With Love

I started taking Bikram Yoga classes (hot yoga) about a month ago to rehabilitate a running injury. Last week, the instructor saw great "potential" in me. Translation: He corrected my movements 13 times in one class - by name. "Trish make sure you ..."

I know because I counted.

Supposedly, I was on the verge of some big breakthrough, and this guy wanted to see me realize success. Instead, I couldn't do anything right. By the end of the class, even my "dead body pose" didn't meet his expectations. When you can't manage to lie down and look, well, dead, that's just sad. I suppose the instructor's intentions were honorable, to help me achieve the next level of yoga competency, but his need to fix every nuance of each pose in one session had the opposite affect.

This unfortunate experience reminded me of when I've watched adults get a little too overzealous in correcting kids, both parents and teachers. On rare occasions, I've been guilty of trying to make too many corrections at once, too.

When we do activities with our kids, from games to homework to chores, what can we do to encourage improvement while keeping everybody happy and confident?

CORRECTION WITH LOVE: Helpful hints

1. Keep comments as positive and encouraging as possible.
   
2. Before making a correction, give a specific, sincere compliment about something the child has done well. "Hey, look at that. You remembered your capital letter at the beginning of the sentence."
3. Ask unemotional questions: Did you remember to ...? What do you think comes next? What do you think would happen if ... ? "Now what do you need to complete this sentence?" Answer: a period - or whatever ending punctuation is required
   
4. If a child has made several mistakes on something, choose one or two things to focus on, and leave the rest for another time. Example: Your child brings a note to you, a reminder that there is a birthday party after school on a given day. There are no capitals or periods, words are misspelled, and the handwriting is barely legible. -Compliment your child on writing the note to help you remember the event. -Pick one concept to bring attention to and ignore the rest.

"Oh my gosh. I would have forgotten all about that party. Thanks for writing me a note. Oops. What did you forget to do at the beginning and end of this sentence?" -to put a capital and period. "Great. Can you add those things and then put the note on the bulletin board (or on the refrigerator - wherever you put reminders in your family)?"

The most potent learning happens when kids feel competent and supported ... adults too, Mr. Yoga instructor. :-)

What kinds of things do you do with your child that generates confidence and good results?