What Do You Know About Your Child's Friends?

Your six-year old tells you she’s been invited to a birthday party for classmate Sally. “It’s at her house, and we’re going swimming!” she says excitedly.  But you don’t know Sally and you haven’t met her parents. 

Or, your seventh-grader tells you he wants to attend the school dance – with Francine! Who the heck is Francine?  What’s she like?  And just how do seventh-graders ‘date’?   

Knowing other parents at school isn’t just important to your child’s safety and well-being, it can be a lifesaver. Being able to borrow a book, catch a ride, get information about school assignments . . .  the fact is, both you and your child will benefit from the connections you make with other parents at school. 

Here are some ideas to help get you started.

• Attend school events    Attend the school orientation, the open house, and other events that provide an opportunity to meet teachers and parents.  It’s always interesting to meet your child’s classmates and their parents, and you’ll learn more about the school.

• Have a playdate    If privacy regulations prevent your child’s school from sharing classmates’ phone and address information, you can volunteer yours.  Send a note for your child to give to a friend, inviting them to a playdate. When the new friend comes over, you can invite the parents in and get acquainted over a cup of coffee while the kids do their thing.

• Host a parent party    Many schools accommodate our busy lives with before- and after-school child care. It’s a great convenience, but it doesn’t offer much opportunity to meet other parents or learn about what’s going on at school. You can host a cookout or party for other parents in your child’s class.  No matter how many or how few show up, you’ll become familiar with who’s who, learn the ins and outs of the school, and get caught up on school happenings.

• Volunteer    Most schools have volunteer opportunities where you’ll get a chance to work with, and get to know, other parents. If your schedule allows, become a regular volunteer for bake sales or field trips.  Otherwise, you can join the parent-teacher association or attend a meeting, you’ll learn about issues that may be of concern to you.

You may feel like your child did on the first day of school – a bit shy and reluctant to step out.  Other parents likely feel the same way. Becoming acquainted with others at school will help you and your child feel like part of the school community. You’ll be more relaxed and your child will be happier, guaranteed!

Help Your Child Conquer their Back-to-School Fears

When you think back to when you started your last “new” job, do you remember how you felt on your first day?  More than a little anxious about how things would go - praying the commute would be problem-free - hoping your coworkers would be easy to get along with - wondering what your boss would be like - and just hoping to fit in. 

Now, imagine what your child must feel like going into a new grade - or a new school. They have the same kinds of worries you would have. Here are some things you can do to help them through this time of transition.

Use books to start conversations. Go to the library or local bookstore to get some back-to-school stories. You’ll find there are many to select from, geared to many different age levels.  You can use these stories to talk to your child about any fears they may have, and help turn those fears to anticipation and excitement. 

Tour the school.  If you child is switching to a new school, a visit during the weeks before school begins can be a big comfort.  Call the school office and ask if you can schedule a tour, or just come for an informal visit. Learn where homeroom is.  Walk through the library. Play on the playground. Find the bathrooms! Those things make a big difference.

Meet the teacher.  Take advantage of any opportunity for your child to meet their teacher before school begins.  If you can find a picture of the teacher on the school web site, post it on the fridge so the teacher’s face becomes familiar to your child.

Start the transition ahead of time.  Many kids have ignored their sleep schedule during the summer months.  The weeks before school begins is a good time for the whole family to ease back into the school-year schedule to ensure your child gets enough sleep.

Practice!  Let your child organize their school supplies and a work area in a quiet place at home. And if they’ll be using a combination lock, make sure they practice opening and locking it until they have that skill down pat.  Another valuable organizational skill is the ability to use a planner.  Even first grade isn’t too early to use a planner – they have them for children of all ages.  If the school doesn’t require that they use one, get one for your child and help them learn how to use it: write down every homework assignment, every upcoming test, and every project.

Find friends.  Try to get the class list in advance or find out which teacher your child will have. If you find that your child's best friend isn't in her new class, arrange a play date with someone who is.  If your child is attending a new school and doesn’t know anyone, talk to them about how to make friends, and what it means to be a good friend.  You can role play to help them learn how to begin conversations and initiate play activities.

Address the gaps.  Finally, if you find that your child has missed some early foundational skills, there may be gaps in reading, writing or math.  At the #TutoringClubJacksonville, we identify these skill gaps with our diagnostic evaluations, and develop a customized plan for your child to get them back on track quickly.  Call us at 268-8556 to enroll your child today!

Business Partner with Greenland Pines Elementary

Tutoring Club of Jacksonville is so thrilled to be an official Business Partner with Greenland Pines Elementary! We are looking forward to all the ways we can interact with teachers, parents, and students to help make sure this school year is an excellent learning experience for all!

It is gratifying to partner with this school and support the families in our community.  We are excited about this partnership and we just know it's going to be a great year!

International Walk to School Day

A couple of weeks ago was the official International Walk to School Day - and across the country, millions of children, parents, teachers and health advocates hit the streets!

This year, 60 schools in Duval County participated in the ann...ual event and participants promoted pedestrian safety and advocated for safer walking environments for students.

However, as recently as yesterday, here in Jacksonville, a student was hit and critically injured while walking to school.

This is another plea for all people to help pay attention to walking students and pedestrians! Stay off the phone! Be extra alert! Watch for bus stops! Pay attention to crossing guards and safety patrol! Help keep our students safe!

#tutoringclubjax

I'll never use this math again - or will I?

How many times has your child said "I will never use this math again"! The fact is, we use math and math concepts every single day, and don't even think about it.  We follow a speed limit, we monitor street crossings and calculate if we need to walk fast or can walk leisurely to make it across the street, we spend money, etc.  The Tutoring Club teaches every level of math our students bring to us, including advanced math!  Read some key points we took from an excellent article:

 

Any global contexts used in math should add to an understanding of the math, as well as the world. To do that, teachers should stay focused on teaching good, sound, rigorous, and appropriate math content and use global examples that work. For instance, learners will find little relevance in solving a word problem in Europe using kilometers instead of miles when instruments already convert the numbers easily. It doesn't contribute to a complex understanding of the world. 

Algebra can explain how quickly water becomes contaminated and how many people in a third-world country drinking that water might become ill on a yearly basis. A study of geometry can explain the science behind architecture throughout the world. Statistics and probability can estimate death tolls from earthquakes, conflicts and other calamities around the world. It can also predict profits, how ideas spread, and how previously endangered animals might repopulate. 

Math is often studied as a pure science, but is typically applied to other disciplines, extending well beyond physics and engineering. For instance, studying exponential growth and decay (the rate at which things grow and die) within the context of population growth, the spread of disease, or water contamination, is meaningful. It not only gives students a real-world context in which to use the math, but helps them understand global phenomena—they may hear about a disease spreading in India, but can't make the connection without understanding how fast something like cholera can spread in a dense population. In fact, adding a study of growth and decay to lower level algebra—it's most often found in algebra II—may give more students a chance to study it in the global context than if it's reserved for the upper level math that not all students take.

In a similar vein, a study of statistics and probability is key to understanding many of the events of the world, and is usually reserved for students at a higher level of math, if it gets any study in high school at all. But many world events and phenomena are unpredictable and can only be described using statistical models, so a globally focused math program needs to consider including statistics. Probability and statistics can be used to estimate death tolls from natural disasters, such as earthquakes and tsunamis; the amount of aid that might be necessary to help in the aftermath; and the number people who would be displaced.

If students are given the right content and context for a globally infused math curriculum, they'll be able to make global connections using math, and create a math model that reflects the complexity and interrelatedness of global situations and events. They'll be able to apply math strategies to solve problems and develop and explain the use of a given math concept in the global sense. And they'll be able to use the right math tools in the right situations, and explain why a math model they chose is relevant. More importantly, students will be able to use data to draw defensible conclusions, and use mathematical knowledge and skills to make real-life impact.  

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/global_learning/2014/10/math_is_global.html

Dress Code Violation Discussion - the "Shame Suit"

Two incidents have been in the news lately about a "Shame Suit" for dress code violators at a local High School.  We are a little torn on the topic and are very interested in your perspective. 

On the one hand, the school does have a dress code/code of conduct policy, as all schools do.  If in fact a student is in violation, should the consequences be applied?

On the other hand, are the options appropriately applied? ISS, Shame Suit, or call home for other attire.

We really are interested in your thoughts.  Are you aware of your school's dress code?  Do you/your children adhere to it?  If you were in charge of running a school, what would your ideal policy be?  Please post, but keep it civil!

Being a Parent Volunteer at School

There are a variety of ways to volunteer at your child's school.  There are opportunities for parents/grandparents who do not work AND opportunities for those who do work outside the home.  You can volunteer to help in the classroom, plan to chaperone field trips, and help with special events like Play Day or Orientation.  You simply need to ask the teacher what you can do to help!

However, in preparation for these opportunities, parents definitely need to get clearance through the school system in advance.  For Duval County, the link to the process is here:

http://www.duvalschools.org/Page/7416

Just know that your child will remember your participation in their school events.  It really does mean something to have you around!

Reading WITH your child has big benefits!

It has been a GREAT week at the Tutoring Club of Jacksonville so far!  Our students have come in so excited about starting school!  They are beautiful with their smiling faces and excellent attitudes! It is very rewarding to see their studying efforts they practiced all summer really pay off in terms of confidence and preparedness these first few days of school!  We thank you again parents, for bringing them to tutoring and letting us help them get ready.

One easy tip you can begin doing with your child TODAY is reading with them.  This applies to kids of all ages and grades.  Read to your child for 10 minutes then ask them 3 questions about what you read.  This will help them listen for details and pay attention to what you are reading.  Then have your child read to you for 10 minutes and ask  you 3 questions about what they read to you.  This will help them read for comprehension, remembering details and practicing their critical thinking when formulating their questions.

In addition to practicing their skills, it will give you incredible bonding time with your child, again, no matter what age.  You can read their favorite book, read from your tablet or device, or use their history textbook - just read! You can do this in almost any setting...your child can read to you in the car, you can read while you are preparing dinner, and before bedtime is a great way to end the evening.  Anytime is a great time to create this reading habit and create sweet memories!

Repeating a grade level in school

In our constant research on education trends, we came across this statistic:

6% of kids age 6-11 repeat at least one grade in school; 11% of kids aged 12-17 repeat at least one grade of school  (http://www.surfnetkids.com/backtoschool/222/back-to-school-fun-facts/).  

There are a number of things that contribute to this such as regular attendance, maturity, and study habits.  But one huge contributing factor to this statistic is these kids tend to miss some early foundational skills but advance anyway, then get to a point in subsequent years that they cannot move on without that skill.  At the Tutoring Club of Jacksonville, our diagnostic evaluation picks up on these skill gaps right away.  We are able to customize a learning plan for your student that addresses missing skills and catches them up to the desired grade level!  

If you notice that your child is struggling, we encourage you to call us right away at 268-8556 and let us help so your child does not end up getting held back a grade in school!