Educators have said active parent involvement raises a student’s academic performance. Yet school districts have witnessed a steady decline in parent participation. Gone are the days when a mother stayed at home to raise children and participate in school activities. Parents are happy when they are not called to the school regarding their son/daughters behavior. Something needs to be done to make parent involvement in K12 schools a high priority on their list of daily activities.
What the educators are saying about parent involvement is true. Parents who read to their children early develop children who enjoy reading. Children are like sponges absorbing new knowledge at a tremendous rate. Today parents are too concerned about keeping their children entertained. Parents are great role models for their children’s love for learning. If the majority of the parent’s time is spent in front of the television then it becomes their child’s main source of information and learning. A student’s enthusiasm for learning should begin in the home then spreads to a child’s school instruction.
Some governors are saying we need more standardized tests to resolve the student achievement gap. Parent involvement is an alternative that costs fewer dollars to implement. The resources that are allocated for testing could be spent to increase the number of parent leaders who are in the schools. Some schools are finding ways to get parent’s involved in the daily activities of their schools. Parents who are involved can learn about instruction methods that other parents can use in the home. They are the catalyst to get parents who are not involved to volunteer for special projects.
Parents sometimes reflect on the bad experiences that they had when they were in K12 schools. Student achievement can be raised when parents know that their active participation will make a difference in their child’s learning capacity. Some parent’s are looking at their child’s achievement level to see if there are any differences. They need to know more about the benefits of looking at the value of education from a different perspective. Some parents do not know what a good education looks like. School administrators and teachers must continually advocate for increased communication with parents.
Some parents are raising the bar on their expectations for their student. They are often interested in identifying resources that will prepare their child for college. They participate in after school and weekend programs right along with their child. They sign up because of their belief that their program will serve us a link between high school and college.
The United States is steadily slipping in terms of its edge in graduating students from high schools, trade schools, and colleges. Starting a national campaign to help parents to understand their role in student achievement is a solution whose time has come. New and innovative organizations are needed. These organizations must take into account the changing trends in family structures. Parents are looking for solutions to the achievement gap. The solution lays in a combination of community and K12 schools working toward alternative education activities which are easily implemented in the home.
About the Author
For twenty years, Dr. Jones has delivered presentations on numerous topics including how to study, leadership, effective communication, and innovative management practices. Working with students has enabled Dr. Jones to have a complete understanding of the challenges their facing.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Organizing a Homeschool for kids to make mom work hassle-free
Organizing a Homeschool for kids to make mom work hassle-free by Tamma DeHart
Most of the people have difficulties in organizing a homeschool by thinking that they have to teach their child and also doing all the home activities inside the house like cooking meals, cleaning dust and also have to spend some time for their partner. But now there are many non-profit associations who are organizing a homeschool for kids.
To manage homeschooling such organizations are great place to select on. There are great advantageous of such small networks who are organizing a homeschool for there country. In a small group, close relationships can be shaped, examining is easier and interacting in a home is also possible. However as the homeschooling movement increases, so do the social co-operations, support groups and other committees. Some homeschool organizations deteriorate below the weight of larger memberships. Organizing a homeschool in some specific areas have divided so that each group does not become too large. Although further often, social club grow to take the challenge and become more prepared and expand their memberships. They are helping the requirements of more families by raising the number of homeschool organizations.
There are numerous places to get second hand or you can say used homeschooling study materials on the internet. Some homeschool core curriculum supplier has homeschool message boards where you can purchase or list used homeschool books for sale.
To properly organizing a homeschool plan a timetable of when you'll have school. Many homeschoolers kids have prescribed educational activities five days a week and use the sixth day for outside activities and running errands. You can also employ a yearly calendar to maintain to follow-up your family vacation tours and holidays when you won't have school. Allocate the beginning and the ending of your educational year. Decide on the quitting time for your school day. This is really works good and then you can plan the rest of your time to utilize on other works although it will also give your children the duty of the work --whatever they don't finish throughout school hours gets completed later, on their own time.
From time to time you will organize things the mode you want them to be, only to find out that there are not sufficient hours in the day to achieve them all. You require placing main concern on the things that must be done first. Occasionally concerning is easily seen and you know what has to be done contrast to what should be or would be nice to have done.
Ms Tamma DeHart originator of hssegue.com, an interactive homeschool support community serving the interests of parents involved in home school support,homeschool support, homeschool forms,homeschool classifieds, california homeschooling, homeschool programs. for more detail about homeschool programs, visit: www.hssegue.com
Most of the people have difficulties in organizing a homeschool by thinking that they have to teach their child and also doing all the home activities inside the house like cooking meals, cleaning dust and also have to spend some time for their partner. But now there are many non-profit associations who are organizing a homeschool for kids.
To manage homeschooling such organizations are great place to select on. There are great advantageous of such small networks who are organizing a homeschool for there country. In a small group, close relationships can be shaped, examining is easier and interacting in a home is also possible. However as the homeschooling movement increases, so do the social co-operations, support groups and other committees. Some homeschool organizations deteriorate below the weight of larger memberships. Organizing a homeschool in some specific areas have divided so that each group does not become too large. Although further often, social club grow to take the challenge and become more prepared and expand their memberships. They are helping the requirements of more families by raising the number of homeschool organizations.
There are numerous places to get second hand or you can say used homeschooling study materials on the internet. Some homeschool core curriculum supplier has homeschool message boards where you can purchase or list used homeschool books for sale.
To properly organizing a homeschool plan a timetable of when you'll have school. Many homeschoolers kids have prescribed educational activities five days a week and use the sixth day for outside activities and running errands. You can also employ a yearly calendar to maintain to follow-up your family vacation tours and holidays when you won't have school. Allocate the beginning and the ending of your educational year. Decide on the quitting time for your school day. This is really works good and then you can plan the rest of your time to utilize on other works although it will also give your children the duty of the work --whatever they don't finish throughout school hours gets completed later, on their own time.
From time to time you will organize things the mode you want them to be, only to find out that there are not sufficient hours in the day to achieve them all. You require placing main concern on the things that must be done first. Occasionally concerning is easily seen and you know what has to be done contrast to what should be or would be nice to have done.
Ms Tamma DeHart originator of hssegue.com, an interactive homeschool support community serving the interests of parents involved in home school support,homeschool support, homeschool forms,homeschool classifieds, california homeschooling, homeschool programs. for more detail about homeschool programs, visit: www.hssegue.com
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Schools and Alumni Research Guide
Schools and Alumni Research Guide by Mark Thompson
Finding school performance data and information on past alumni can be very difficult. But it is getting much easier through new services on the internet. Many people who are preparing to apply to a school want to know school ranking data, alumni satisfaction rates, and much more. Some of the most important things to look for that some people skip over is the employment rates of recent graduates, average salaries of graduates, and the percentage of graduates who went on to do further schooling (and where they got accepted). Some find this process to be very overwhelming because there are services that now handle each individual aspect of school information, and other larger companies try to handle it all. Many students just apply to the best possible schools (in academic terms) without considering student life and other issues. In order to make sure that you enjoy your school experience, it is important to make other considerations.
If you are researching schools, here are some things you should check: School size: The size of a school can have a profound impact on those who attend. Schools come in all sizes from less than 100 students to more than 30,000. Both have advantages and disadvantages. An advantage of smaller schools is students tend to receive more attention and help from teachers. A disadvantage of smaller schools (especially colleges) is that they tend to be less broadly known or acknowledged which means less recruiters and sometimes less value to a degree. At larger schools, students tend to just be a number and are usually unable to seek one-on-one help from professors. But larger schools can attract more recruiters and more degree value for job seekers.
Distance from Home: The distance from home is very important for people of all ages who are looking for a school to attend. Parents who are considering schools for their children should take this very seriously. Boarding schools can have a profound impact on kids and young adults and shouldn't be taken lightly. Most teens thinking about college usually want to move a long distance away to get out on their own. This can cause homesickness, financial strain, less home visits, and more issues that should be considered.
School programs: For school seekers who are looking to specialize in a specific field (which should be almost everyone), applicants should look at test score performance, alumni job history, and what recruiters come to the campus looking for employees. They should also look for what majors are offered and what the requirements are for receiving a degree. For young kids, parents usually consider music and art programs in elementary and middle schools.
Cost and Scholarships: The price of good schooling has become extreme these days and in many cases outrageous. But in general, the higher the cost of tuition, the more value of the degree. That doesn't necessarily mean that the education is not as good at less expensive schools, but the degree might not look as good on resumes. Many schools offer scholarships that you may be eligible to receive which is worth looking into as well.
Location and Activities: Where a school is located is also a major factor. Some schools are situated in major cities and others are out in the middle of nowhere. The colleges in major urban areas tend to have more entertainment and dining choices in proximity of the campus, but that also means that no one is usually on campus. The schools in obscure areas have less to do around them but that means more student life and more participation in the activities offered by the school itself.
Student Demographics: The diversity of a school's student body is very important to the whole educational experience. Schools with more diversity can offer a rich experience because the students not only learn a lot from teachers, but they also can learn a large amount from each other. It is best to look for schools that are well balanced between genders and ethnic backgrounds.
Sports and Athletic Programs: If you are looking to get into sports it is important to investigate a potential school's athletic programs. You should look at how many teams they have, what division they are a part of, and what percentage of students who try out get accepted. For parents who are trying to get their kids involved in sports, they should also look into the various sports activities that elementary schools offer.
Do not just apply to one school, explore all your options and make sure you have back-up plans in case certain schools do not work out. Before you settle on any school, it is important to actually visit the campus and meet some of the faculty. It might even be a good idea to sit through an assembly or activity just to get a feel for what the student life will be like.
Mark Thompson is a retired school administrator with years of experience in the education industry. He regularly contributes to Schools and Reunions which is a national school information site that offers data on hundreds of thousands of schools. Please do not hesitate to visit schoolsandreunions.com
Finding school performance data and information on past alumni can be very difficult. But it is getting much easier through new services on the internet. Many people who are preparing to apply to a school want to know school ranking data, alumni satisfaction rates, and much more. Some of the most important things to look for that some people skip over is the employment rates of recent graduates, average salaries of graduates, and the percentage of graduates who went on to do further schooling (and where they got accepted). Some find this process to be very overwhelming because there are services that now handle each individual aspect of school information, and other larger companies try to handle it all. Many students just apply to the best possible schools (in academic terms) without considering student life and other issues. In order to make sure that you enjoy your school experience, it is important to make other considerations.
If you are researching schools, here are some things you should check: School size: The size of a school can have a profound impact on those who attend. Schools come in all sizes from less than 100 students to more than 30,000. Both have advantages and disadvantages. An advantage of smaller schools is students tend to receive more attention and help from teachers. A disadvantage of smaller schools (especially colleges) is that they tend to be less broadly known or acknowledged which means less recruiters and sometimes less value to a degree. At larger schools, students tend to just be a number and are usually unable to seek one-on-one help from professors. But larger schools can attract more recruiters and more degree value for job seekers.
Distance from Home: The distance from home is very important for people of all ages who are looking for a school to attend. Parents who are considering schools for their children should take this very seriously. Boarding schools can have a profound impact on kids and young adults and shouldn't be taken lightly. Most teens thinking about college usually want to move a long distance away to get out on their own. This can cause homesickness, financial strain, less home visits, and more issues that should be considered.
School programs: For school seekers who are looking to specialize in a specific field (which should be almost everyone), applicants should look at test score performance, alumni job history, and what recruiters come to the campus looking for employees. They should also look for what majors are offered and what the requirements are for receiving a degree. For young kids, parents usually consider music and art programs in elementary and middle schools.
Cost and Scholarships: The price of good schooling has become extreme these days and in many cases outrageous. But in general, the higher the cost of tuition, the more value of the degree. That doesn't necessarily mean that the education is not as good at less expensive schools, but the degree might not look as good on resumes. Many schools offer scholarships that you may be eligible to receive which is worth looking into as well.
Location and Activities: Where a school is located is also a major factor. Some schools are situated in major cities and others are out in the middle of nowhere. The colleges in major urban areas tend to have more entertainment and dining choices in proximity of the campus, but that also means that no one is usually on campus. The schools in obscure areas have less to do around them but that means more student life and more participation in the activities offered by the school itself.
Student Demographics: The diversity of a school's student body is very important to the whole educational experience. Schools with more diversity can offer a rich experience because the students not only learn a lot from teachers, but they also can learn a large amount from each other. It is best to look for schools that are well balanced between genders and ethnic backgrounds.
Sports and Athletic Programs: If you are looking to get into sports it is important to investigate a potential school's athletic programs. You should look at how many teams they have, what division they are a part of, and what percentage of students who try out get accepted. For parents who are trying to get their kids involved in sports, they should also look into the various sports activities that elementary schools offer.
Do not just apply to one school, explore all your options and make sure you have back-up plans in case certain schools do not work out. Before you settle on any school, it is important to actually visit the campus and meet some of the faculty. It might even be a good idea to sit through an assembly or activity just to get a feel for what the student life will be like.
Mark Thompson is a retired school administrator with years of experience in the education industry. He regularly contributes to Schools and Reunions which is a national school information site that offers data on hundreds of thousands of schools. Please do not hesitate to visit schoolsandreunions.com
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