The headlines may say that the recession has ended, but in our daily conversations with parents, we realize that your children may be struggling and finances may still be a very pressing issue.
Even if there is no money available, there are plenty of activities you can do with your children to help them succeed. We recommend the following:
- Read with your child at least 20 minutes each day and make it fun. Start out with you reading to them.
Have them follow along while you read. Every once in a while stop and have them read a word. Stop and talk about what is going on. Can your child relate any past experience to what is being read? Slowly, have your child take on more of the reading. Play the actress or actor, make it fun! Have your child read to a younger child, or even to your family pet!!!
- When choosing books to read with your child, pick books they will like; your local school or Public Library Media Specialist can help locate suitable books. Trips to the library are always fun.
- Turn on the text (closed caption) on the TV. It is amazing how much they can pick up when they read, see AND listen.
- Get books on tape - your public library, the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic and Bookshare are all good options. Have your child follow along.
- Communicate with your child's teacher and work together to figure out how you both can make the difference with a team effort..
Two examples:
1- A child was getting to class late a couple of days a week, from August through February. The teachers requested that the parents get the child to school on-time. The parents had no idea that this was a problem.
It turned out the child took the bus to school and had breakfast in the cafeteria. The challenge was, the young man had ADHD and lost track of time.
By assigning another student to escort him to class the problem was solved.
2- A student was not copying homework assignments correctly and Mom was spending considerable time trying to figure out what the assignments were. The teacher was not giving full credit for the assignments because they were not complete.
The mother asked the teacher to make sure her son had a copy of the assignments. This way she had the correct assignments and could help her son complete them and placed where her son could find them. Problem solved.
Note. Too often parents ask teachers for copies of the assignments and do not reciprocate by checking to make sure the assignments are completed and placed where the student can find them. They rely solely on their children’s word.
Collaboration and Communication are the keys, and it works best when parents go the extra mile.