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As responsible and caring parents you want to paint a colorful picture of school for your children. Show them that school is a great place to be and encourage them to enjoy the learning process. If you promote this attitude from their early years, your kids will feel that school is interesting and will be excited about learning new things. You can teach your children to look forward to Monday mornings, and to going back to school at the end of summer and Christmas break. If your children love to learn, your job as a parent will be that much easier.
Here are some simple tips to make these things happen, according to Terri Khonsari, author of "Raising A Superstar: Simple Strategies to Bring Out the Brilliance in Every Child":
- The rule of the house should be "Homework First." If they are hungry when they get home a small snack is in order, and homework should be the top priority right after that. Talk to them about the importance of homework, and explain the necessity for getting it done in their own terms. Remind your children of the consequences if they fail to complete it promptly: they could be reprimanded by the teacher for not having completed it or have a low grade because they waited to work on it until they were too tired to concentrate properly. On the other hand, homework done well is cause for recognition and a reason to look forward to school
- Ask your children about their day. Encourage them to talk about how they are feeling about certain classes or teachers. Learn about their interactions with other kids and keep up to date on happenings at the school itself. You cannot help your children to like or enjoy school if you don't know what goes on there. Be proactive so your children know that you care. That way, they will bring you their problems if any arise. No one ever regretted being TOO involved with their child's school experience.
- Teach your kids not to hurt others’ feelings when they joke around. Make sure they understand the line between being funny and making fun of others. Start with your own home and people around you; don't allow anyone make fun of your kids and don't allow your children to make fun of others. Raise children who respect others and their feelings, and they will be respected in turn.
- Teach your children confidence, but stop them when they cross the line and become arrogant. When you observe others showing signs of arrogance, talk to your kids about it so they can see how unpleasant such behavior can be, and warn them not to do the same. Explain that a fine line exists between confidence and arrogance. Point out the difference so they can become pleasant and confident in school and later on as adults.
- Encourage your children to join extracurricular activities and after-class clubs offered at their school. It may seem like more work, but it really isn't. They will have something to look forward to when school is over, and they will get to meet other active children. They will constantly learn new things and be exposed to activities that may help them choose their career later in life.
To learn more about Khonsari’s work visit www.RaisingASuperstar.com and sign up for more free tips on raising happy, healthy and successful children.
Bullying has profound negative effects on a child's development and it can be a real distraction in school. In fact, it is estimated that 160,000 children in the United States miss school each day as a result of being bullied.
That's why PTA is once again sponsoring the PACER Center's National Center for Bullying Prevention's Third Annual National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week, October 5-11. Teachers, parents, and children nationwide are encouraged to use this week as a time to increase community awareness about the prevalence and impact of bullying.
Many adults aren't aware that a child is being bullied because many children don't tell their parents or teachers. They might be worried that they won't be taken seriously, or that the adult will respond inappropriately. To learn how to respond to bullies, visit PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org with your kids. The site features games, interactive stories, and other activities that teach children about bullying and how to stop it.
Other resources:
- Use this handout to prepare yourself for conversations with your child about possible bullying behavior your child has seen or experienced.
- Visit this site for more information on how to respond and take action.
- Check out PTA.org's resource on bullying prevention.
Did you know that fathers and father figures have a unique impact on the educational and emotional lives of children when they become more actively involved? Three for Me helps more men get involved in the educational lives of their children by asking them to volunteer just three hours of time to working with the school.
Here are just a few things men can do to honor their commitment:
At Home
- Go over their child's homework.
- Work with their child on projects around the home. Talk about the educational side of the work.
- Share stories about when they were in school. The good and the not-so-good.
At School
- Participate in career day.
- Tutor a child.
- Read to their child's class.
In the community
- Talk to other men about the importance of their involvement.
- Ask their employer to find a way to work with the school.
- Do community service with their family.
Three for Me helps organize school needs with the ways men can give their time. If you don't have Three for Me in your school, visit three4me.com to get information on how to start the program. If your school has Three for Me, talk to administrators about ideas for getting more men involved by using this program.
Programs that make it possible for students to safely walk or bike to school
International Walk to School Day, celebrated on October 8, is an opportunity to learn more about and lend your support to Safe Routes to School programs. Go to walktoschool.org to find out what events are planned in your community and for event ideas to share with your school and PTA.
Federal funds are now available to each state department of transportation to establish Safe Routes to School programs. Learn what's happening in your state and how to get involved.
Encourage school-age kids to enter the"My Family Dinner" placemat coloring contest and depict what happens during their family dinners. The contest runs from September 22 through October 22. It is a program of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, creators of Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™. Winning artwork will be used in CASA's 2009 Family Day promotional campaign.
For contest details and official rules, go to casafamilyday.org.
On October 2, 2008, join families, teachers, and community leaders nationwide in reading Corduroy to children as part of Jumpstart'sRead for the Record Campaign to break the Guinness World Record™ for the largest shared reading experience. Use Jumpstart's event finder at readfortherecord.com or contact your local PTA to find an event in your area. Make sure your participation counts toward the record!
To learn how you can help win $1,000 worth of books for your school, visit pta.org.
Each year, the PTA national organization awards a limited number of matching grants of up to $1,000 to local PTAs for student-centered arts education programs. Congratulations to this year's Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant recipients:
- Chestnut Elementary School PTA, Painesville, Ohio, will employ an artist in residence to stage a bilingual production of The Wizard of Oz as an after-school program. The artist in residence will direct the production while parent, school, and community volunteers head teams of students in set design, costuming, music, and acting.
- Crittenden Middle School PTA, Mountain View, California, will host a"poetry year" featuring a poet in residence who will conduct four weeks of poetry workshops for all 7th-graders and a two-hour professional development seminar for all teachers on integrating poetry into lessons plans. The year will also include VIP poetry readings by members of the community and other activities.
- Berwyn Heights Elementary School PTA, Berwyn Heights, Maryland, will connect science and art by engaging the school and community in creating a mosaic mural of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. This"Web of Life" mosaic will be a permanent fixture on the exterior of the school.
Read the press release announcing these grant recipients.
To learn more about the
grant program, go online.
There are many ways that you can help your child succeed! A few small activities each week will pay huge dividends over the course of the year. Here are a few that you can do this week:
- Attend school meetings on learning expectations, assessments, and grading procedures.
Asista a las reuniones escolares sobre las expectativas de aprendizaje, evaluación y procedimientos de calificación.
- Help set goals and develop a personalized education plan for your child.
Contribuya a fijar objetivos y a elaborar un plan educativo personalizado para su hijo.
Member Benefits Provider Message
Kidz IDz introduces The Ultimate Fundraiser Coupon Book Program!
Your local PTA can sell coupon books that are loaded with over $2,000 in exclusive savings at local restaurants and retailers. The book can pay for itself after redeeming just 1 or 2 of the 300 coupons it contains! And, with the Kidz IDz Success Guaranteed Program, you can earn $500 - $5,000, whether you sell 1 book or 1,000 books!
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- No cost - books given on consignment
- Takes only 2 weeks
- Free $30 Photo ID Card
Individual Prizes:
- Every person who sells 5 books receives a free book
- Every person who sells 5 books participates in a free pizza party
- For every 10 books sold, that person receives a $10 gift card
(i.e: 20 books sold = 2 gift cards)!
- Additional cash prizes also awarded for reaching minimal goals!
Log onto enjoythecitypromotions.com/pta or call Kidz IDz at 877-322-CITY (877-322-2489)for more information or to get your local Coupon Book.
