Previous: A New Approach to Reading

Next: Charter Schools Spotlight: Working together for the community

Home  Library Join 

NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS WEEK: Here are some ideas to celebrate this week, April 30- May 4. You can view more at www.edreform.com. Consider having a theme for each day and host an open house at the end of the week. TEACHER’S APPRECIATION DAY: •    Host a breakfast or lunch. •    Have students read essays to honor teachers. STUDENT APPRECIATION DAY: •    Distribute bookmarks or pencils, or special food treats.   •    Hold a special school assembly with enter- tainment, such as a magician. PARENT APPRECIATION DAY • Ask students to write thank you notes to parent volunteers • Run a special notice of thanks in school paper or web site. OPEN HOUSE • Invite local leaders, the mayor, etc. to tour the school while your choir or band plays. • Display student work around school, espe- cially projects that show why the students love their charter school. T he end of the school year always signals big change. New summertime routines, as well as plans to ready kids for new grades in the fall can preoccupy the best of us. If that end-of-the-year hustle also includes plans for switching your child to a new school because of a move to a new town, a transition from public to private school, or some other motivating life event, the change can be dramatic. Making your child’s school switch a breeze depends heavily on how well the new school is suited to your child.  No longer is it sufficient to simply send your child to the school she’s assigned to, based on where you live.  If you’re in that position, you need to inquire about more than what programs are available.  You need to determine if there’s a fit between your child and the school.  There are some good questions you can ask to help you determine this – among them, past issues of Parent Power!, available on our website at www.edreform.com. There is plenty to think about: friends, routines, curriculums, maybe even new family circumstances. Most kids find ways to cope, but experts warn that those who do best when switching schools are those who are best prepared. What can parents do? There is no way to guarantee a transition. But there are steps parents can take to help a child reach her academic potential at the new school, and avoid feeling as though she’s a tourist in a foreign When Your Child Changes Schools land. Experts say if the child feels comfortable with the social transition the academic adjustment will likely be smooth as well. Be positive: Examine your own attitude: How well prepared are you for the change? Dr. Alex Thomas, chair of the educational psychology department at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, says that parents set the tone for kids. “What kind of spin is the parent putting on the circumstances?” he asks. Children change schools for many reasons. If the change is precipitated by a family crisis, such as divorce or financial problems, parents have to step back from their own burdens and focus on the child, he says. Even chil- dren changing schools for positive reasons — say a move to a better district — need extra attention. “Kids like routines,” Dr. Thomas adds. “When they are put out of their routine they become disoriented. Know your child’s character and gauge what it will take for him to adjust.” Help your child know what to expect: Visit the school before your child starts. Walk the halls. Check out your child’s classroom, the cafeteria, gym, nurse’s office, even the bathrooms. Look around outside — including recreation areas and entrance doors. Talk about transportation. If she will take a bus, visit the bus stop. Drive the route to school together. Try to quickly set a daily routine and talk it through with  your child. Meet the teacher and principal: Establishing a rela- tionship with the staff before school starts creates a sense of belonging for your child and for you. It could make it easier to discuss future concerns. Let the teacher know if your child has learning or health issues, or if changes in her life could affect her schoolwork. Ask for a summer reading list and a classroom-supply list. Having common reference points and the right equipment will help your child fit in. Introduce yourself to the office staff, may provide you with a school directory, the names of parent group members, or other useful materials. Meet other parents and classmates: Many schools provide special services for new families, such as “buddy” programs that team you with a host family, or that pair your child with an established student at the school. Look for neighborhood kids who attend the school, or get names from the school and set up play dates before school starts.   First encoun- ters could be awkward, however, and you may want to plan some activities with crafts, cooking or games.” Get involved: Research shows that children do better in school when their parents are involved in their educa- tion. Attendance and achievement go up, regard- less of economics, race or culture. Join the school’s parent group, volunteer for field trips or holiday parties, attend open houses. Some schools use classroom or recess volunteers. These are all good ways to connect with other parents, monitor the curriculum, stay on top of issues affecting the school, and keep tabs on how your child is progressing.