Call the teacher

Radio Commentary

If you suspect that your child is having a problem in school, in any area, how do you know when you should call your child’s teacher?

It might be useful to know that most teachers say they want to know what’s going on in their students’ lives. 

Chances are if you’ve noticed a problem, your child’s teacher has noticed something is wrong, too.

By working together, you and the teacher may be able to come up with a good solution for your child

When should a parent call a teacher?  

Call if you see a dramatic change in your child’s behavior — if a happy child becomes withdrawn, or a friendly child wants to be alone.

Call if your child’s grades drop suddenly, for no apparent reason

You should also call if there’s been a change in your family. A new marriage, a divorce, or a new baby can affect school work and can indicate that other problems might follow if not addressed.

Good communication between teacher and parent can make a world of difference, and can provide the opportunity for a solution that is supported by all involved. 

In the long run, your child gains the most from this type of collaboration.

If in doubt, make the call.

After-school sports

Radio Commentary

After-school sports can be the best part of a student’s day. But they can also cause problems or become a source of high levels of stress.

Clearly there are many benefits involved with sports. Here are some of the many positives:

• Sports help students keep fit and active.

• They can help develop self-esteem through achievements on the field.

• They help students learn the value of teamwork, one of the most valuable skills a young person can develop. 

Here are some of the possible challenges for students who play sports:

• Some students believe if they are good in sports, they don’t have to work hard in class. They become popular or well regarded for their athletic abilities and feel that is good enough.

• Some students find sports highly stressful if they cannot perform to their own expectations or those of their family or teammates.

• And some students want to win at any cost, no matter what. Let your child know that winning is not  the only thing that matters.

Effort, team work, good sportsmanship and improved skills should all be sources of pride as well. Those are the real lessons to be learned

Study skills report

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Researchers agree that parents who coach their children in essential study skills can make a difference that lasts a lifetime.

Parents can help by having a time and place designated for studies. They should stress the child’s sense of responsibility in completing all assignments thoroughly and accurately.

Some specific skills parents can support include the following:

• For time management — help students list goals and schedule deadlines. Discuss ways to maintain that schedule day in and day out, even when other activities seem to interfere.

• For reference materials and libraries — take children to the library and show them how to find and use the reference materials available.

Becoming comfortable with a library helps enormously as children’s academic assignments become more complex.

• For listening skills — children can practice listening to instructions and other verbal messages at home. Remind them there is a difference between hearing and truly listening.

• For verbal presentations — encourage children to discuss their activities, and practice oral reports at home.

The more comfortable they become with the techniques of verbal presentations at home, the more successful they will be in the classroom when those skills are needed.

Home is where study skills are learned and refined, with parents’ help. Helping children develop these skills will yield lasting, long-term benefits, while helping your children become life-long learners.

Sleep for teens

Radio Commentary

For years parents and educators have known that teens do not get enough sleep to meet their health needs. Now we know there is a new culprit: their cell phones.

Parents may be unaware that many teens sleep with their cell phones by their side, answering calls or text messaging throughout the night.

As a result, teens come in to school very tired, and even start experiencing the kind of ailments that arise from too little sleep.

Research has documented that on average, teenagers have traditionally gotten about two hours less sleep every night than they need. The situation puts teen at risk of increased accidents and general moodiness.

In the past, these numbers arose from the fact that teens were generally staying up too late and waking too early for the needs of their bodies. Those figures were calculated BEFORE the prevalence of cell phones.

According to research, teen bodies need nine hours and fifteen minutes of sleep per night. Prior to the advent of cell phones as bedmates, teens were only getting an average of seven hours of sleep per night. Now the numbers are far lower.

And fitful sleep, in short bursts, is not as healthful as uninterrupted sleep, so the health implications are far graver than they have ever been.

Of the estimated 100,000 car crashes a year linked to drowsy driving, almost half involve drivers age 16-24, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. What’s more, like humans of any age, teens get more emotional when they are sleep-deprived.

The best thing a parent can do to help teens get the vital sleep they need is make sure there is no cell phone by their side when they go to bed. Period. Turn it off and take it away. It’s good parenting.

Five ways to connect

Radio Commentary

Here are the top five ways for parents to connect with their child’s teacher:

At the start of the school year, make arrangements to meet the teacher. This is an ideal time to share information about your child so that the student and teacher can make the best possible connection.

Take a “no fault” approach when dealing with difficult issues at school. Blaming teachers or classmates only strains relationships.

Join forces with teachers to reach a common goal: helping your child overcome difficulties and find success.

Drop your child’s teacher a note any time.

Do you have a question about homework? Is your child upset about something that happened at home? Were you really impressed by a school project? Pass it along.

Call your child’s teacher for a specific reason — or for no reason at all. Teachers appreciate hearing from you. It’s a good idea to ask teachers beforehand for good times to call.

Bring a list of questions to parent-teacher conferences.

Prepared questions help the conference stay focused and keep you on the issues that matter. 

These ideas can help get the school year off to a good start.

What parents should know about high school

Radio Commentary

What do parents need to know about high school?

Beyond the school calendar and what classes your student will take, you should also be familiar with graduations requirements and the classes available to prepare students for life after high school.

What are the academic and social standards?

What is the California High School Exit Exam?

Here are some tips for staying informed:

•  Obtain and read everything. Gather newsletters, handbooks, notices and course descriptions. Read it all.

•  Get to know the staff. Know everyone from the principal and school secretary to the teachers. Make an appointment for face-to-face meetings. Plan your questions before you arrive. 

•  Talk to other parents. Information about special programs, scholarships and good classes can all come from other parents. It is especially helpful to talk to parents who have older children.

•  Ask questions. That’s your right. And the staff at local high schools are willing to answer all your questions.

•  Finally, check homework. You can get a lot of information by spot-checking assignments. 

Looking at homework lets you know what your child is doing and it tells him you consider it important. 

Parent's check-list

Radio Commentary

Parents often ask what they can do to help prepare their children for school.

The most important parent involvement comes from setting a tone of respect and appreciation for education in general and school rules in particular.

Here’s a checklist that has proven helpful for many families:

• Did my child get a good breakfast this morning? Children learn better when they arrive well-nourished.

• Did I provide a nutritious lunch or money to buy one?

• After school, did my child have a chance to tell me what happened today and to share concerns or excitement?

• Did my child use the agreed-upon time to complete all homework? This should be the number one priority each night.

• Did I make time to help my child with any problems that arose? Explaining things right away can often make the biggest difference.

• Does my child have any tests tomorrow? If so, has the needed studying been done?

• Have I read with my child? Has she read alone?

• Will my child get to bed at the regular time tonight?

These are good questions to pose. They provide the basic building blocks for success in any classroom.

Parent participation in middle school

Radio Commentary

The rate of parental involvement at school often declines when children enter the middle grades. But it doesn’t have to, according to Mary Simon, author of How to Parent Your Teenager.

Here are some ways parents can participate after their children leave the elementary school ranks:

•  Serve as a volunteer in the school office, library, hallways, or cafeteria.

•  Listen to students read.

•  Be a tutor.

•  Share your hobbies, culture, or special skills with students.

•  Help with clubs and activities. Organize and distribute sports uniforms, time debates, teach students how to play chess.

•  Chaperon field trips and dances.

•  Contact sources of funding for special projects.

•  Support your school’s fundraising efforts.

•  Serve on school committees.

•  Lead or support PTA efforts. 

Simon says her own involvement enriched her understanding of her son’s life in junior high.

What makes participation more difficult at these levels is the fact that students often feel more independent and sometimes act as though they don’t want their parents involved.

Don’t fall for it!  Deep down, young people are really pleased that their parents still care enough to participate. 

And it’s a good way to stay in tune with what’s going on.