Checklist of 12 Questions for Your Consideration about Year Round Schooling

Checklist of 12 Questions for Your Consideration about Year Round Schooling by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Often he or she who fulfills the need (s) of a person wins the heart, respect and often loyalty of that person (Mrs. Dorothy Barron).

 

My child will be going to school year round; as a Parent should I be concerned? As more and more schools move to year round schooling many Parents have expressed concerns? As a parent do you know what such entails for your child/ren and those involved?

As Parents, you have the job and responsibility of being vigilant and discerning; do not allow your role as a Parent to be usurped. Following is a checklist of 12 questions that have been compiled for your consideration about year round schooling.

Checklist of 12 Questions to Consider Asking about Year Round Schooling:

1.       What does year round schooling entail; how is my child’s present academic performance and disposition (from a psychological, physical and emotional standpoint)?

2.       Does my child like school; how does my child’s feel about such; what are his/her thoughts, concerns, etc.?

3.       What are the pros and cons; are they valid and foremost, in the best interest of my child?

4.       How do Educators feel about year round schooling for students? Will schools lose more of their best teachers as a result of year round schooling?

5.       Will students and teachers suffer emotional exhaustion and burn-out?

6.       Will such result with others having more control over my child and thus weakening and undermining my authority as a Parent and eventually reducing it until I have none at all?

7.       Most schools are struggling now (financially and otherwise); what are the expectations from a positive standpoint of students going year round to school?

8.       When one now views the state of Education and schools, what positive changes are expected with year round schooling?

9.       Will I as a Parent have control over who will be instructing my child and/or the instructions?

10.   Will my child and I even have a choice(s) should such prove to be too much, not effective for my child and his/her wellbeing?

11.   What about Educators; will such create more burdens for them? With more talk of teacher training, evaluations, etc., where and how are Educators going to find time to accomplish such and teach school year round?

12.   Who made the decision to implement year round schooling and who will be responsible for monitoring its effect?

From my experience of 16 years in our schools and the Education Arena in general, I think parents should be very concerned about schools going to year round schooling.  My position is that children need the 2 or so months of school summer break to relax the mind; dream; think, wonder, experiment, create and at times simply spend time alone. At times, simply knowing the school summer break was forthcoming allowed many students to get through the remaining school year. Educators need this time to relax the mind; refresh, regroup and plan for the next year.

 

Parents Taking Charge in Education Channel Video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtfZH3hXy-0

An Activity for Parents:

Parents get pen and paper and make a list of pros and cons on this issue and then you, decide.

 

Parents, Educators; what are your thoughts or position on the subject of year round schooling?

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Founder

Parents Taking Charge in Education   http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PTCnEducation

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrsDBarronPTCnEd

E-mail: barron.dorothy@yahoo.com

 

Going Back to the Basics in Education: Pt. 4 Educators and Administrators - Consider the Needs of the Parents of Your Students by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Going Back to the Basics in Education: Pt. 4 Educators and Administrators – Consider the Needs of the Parents of Your Students by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

 

 

Parents Taking Charge in Education YouTube Channel:                                                                        

Educators and Administrators, in relation to the needs of Parents of your students, four (4) questions have been posed for your consideration in today's Going Back to the Basics in Education: Educators and Administrators – Pt. 4 Consider the Needs of the Parents of Your Students by Mrs. Dorothy Barron and can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGEwe7PblCM&feature=plcp

When it comes to the education of students;

We want Parents to…

We want students to…

We want children to…

We want, we want, and we want…

but, and until you first show genuine interest in Parents of your students and their needs, what you want will continue to take a back seat as it relates to the education of your students. If a Parent and his/her child’s basic needs are lacking and not met, how do you expect to get the best of the child physically, mentally and academically?

A Suggestion to School Administrators & PTA/PTOs – sometime it is easy to overlook basic unmet needs of many students and their Parents. A good joint project between the school and PTA/PTO would be to compile and keep an updated list of available sources, resources and contact information to provide to Parents of students. The list can be comprised of agency sources; academic resources, places to purchase inexpensive clothing, computers and other type equipment. You would tailor the resource list to your school’s Parents and students’ needs. Sometimes Parents are reticent about asking for assistance or certain resource information. Lack of basic and needed resources may make a difference as to whether a student succeeds or fails.

Illustration: Niks

Dress designed (2012) by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Founder

Parents Taking Charge in Education   http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PTCnEducation

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrsDBarronPTCnEd

E-mail: barron.dorothy@yahoo.com

Going Back to the Basics in Education – Pt. 3 Can Your School meet your child’s basic needs in Education? By Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Going Back to the Basics in Education – Pt. 3 Can Your School meet your child’s basic needs in Education? By Mrs.   Dorothy Barron

Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FspprakDzaE&feature=plcp

Can your school meet your child’s basic needs? In other words does your school have necessary supplies, equipment and other resources to properly function and provide those tools needed to properly educate students; your child/ren?

Do some of the same problems in Education that existed 20 or more years ago still exist today?

A teacher remarked recently that she was elated that she was at a school where the school’s copier actually worked and supplies were ample. Parents, these were prevalent problems 20 years ago and to which I can attest; I experienced the dilemma along with staff and faculty and saw firsthand how lack of basic equipment and supplies impeded teachers’ efforts to provide some of the best learning experiences for students. Such also dampened teachers/staff’s morale over a period of time. Teachers did not have time to stand around all day in attempts to get the school copier to operate. I often tried to coax the copier to function properly in an effort to make copies for teachers or while engaged in PTA business and just as often wound up with as much copier ink on me as the inked carbon copies.  

Parents can make a Difference in Education

At the school in which I served as PTA President, the problem was resolved after PTA members voted to, raised funds and purchased a new copier and supplies. The sighs of relief!  Staff and faculty were greatly appreciative that Parents were concerned and concerned enough to make their jobs a bit easier. That one small gesture made a difference in the entire school’s environment. 

Meeting the Basic Needs of Children in Education

Surely and hopefully, with present modern and advanced technology available, schools are not still using outdated ink-paper carbon copiers. Of course this was one example, but the point is - basic needs in Education for children such as equipment, supplies and other resources cannot be lacking in our schools. If teachers and educators do not have necessary equipment, supplies and resources to assist and enable them with providing a basic quality education to students, how do we propose Educators/teachers assist students with advancing and excelling academically? Parents can your school meet your child’s basic needs or do you know?

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Founder

Parents Taking Charge in Education   http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PTCnEducation

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrsDBarronPTCnEd

E-mail: barron.dorothy@yahoo.com

Going Back to the Basics in Education – Pt. 2 Discovering and highlighting Beauty within your Schools by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Going Back to the Basics in Education – Pt. 2 Discovering and highlighting Beauty within your Schools by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

In Parents Taking Charge in Education Going Back to the Basics in Education Series Pt. 1 - An Environment conducive to Learning - Beauty makes a difference, we raised some questions hopefully to get you thinking about a school environment conducive to learning in relation to the look of your child school’s exterior school building and offered a suggestion for the creation of such an environment through a beautification initiative.

We want to now focus on the interior of school buildings as we continue to look at creating an environment conducive to learning. The inside structure and operational components should be operational and fully-functioning. Today in PT. 2 of our Series, Discovering and Highlighting Beauty within your Schools, we share small acts and actions utilized which created beauty inside some school buildings and made positive differences and an impact on students, school staff and others. What such acts and actions may have students saying can be found in today’s Parents Taking Charge in Education YouTube Channel Video at the link listed below.

  Decorative School Bulletin Boards:

During my formative years in elementary school one of the greatest highlights were bulletin boards; yes, bulletin boards from the perspective of the teacher having turned those boards into educational “work of arts,” beauty and learning tools. Older children were asked to assist and boy, oh boy, one could not wait until he/she was selected by the teacher to assist with cutting, pasting and stapling pre-cut letters, borders and art onto those bulletin boards.

        The Beauty of Students’ work and Achievements:

As an adult - at one school, which I had the privilege to volunteer and serve as PTA President, the PTA sponsored a contest of written essays on Fire Safety. The students’ essay papers were publicly displayed on hall walls and sticks of peppermint were attached to each essay. I was informed more than once that the candy would not remain; some sticky fingers would take the candy down. Such was not the case; not a single stick of candy was taken during the entire number of days the papers remained attached to the wall. The students took pride that their essays were highlighted publicly. The hall wall display of publicized essays and peppermint sticks were the adults’ way of having said, “job well done and we are proud of you.”

Beauty during the Holidays: What is more beautiful and exciting to most children during the Christmas Holidays?

The answer: A beautifully decorated Christmas tree and gifts! A beautifully decorated Christmas tree was placed in the lobby of the school and hung with peppermint sticks. The staff was uplifted and students were joyous and excited. Once again, some pessimists made the same claim; the candy would not remain on the tree. In this instance, one child did remove a hanging peppermint stick, but suddenly replaced the candy and walked rapidly away. The decorated Christmas Tree - a small endeavor which created an act of beauty seemed to have motivated everyone to work a little harder academically and served as a morale booster for all. The school janitor as usual kept the building exceptionally clean and the hall floors waxed.

The above were basic and small acts which portrayed beauty and each made a difference and positive impact in Education!

Parents Taking Charge in Education YouTube Channel Video Link ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5k4NCHxaSU&feature=plcp Parents Taking Charge in Education Back to the Basics in Education Series: Pt. 2 Discovering and highlighting Beauty within your Schools: The Impact of Beauty when utilized within a School’s Environment – What students may say?

Bulletin Board - Images Credit:

Photo of leaves above and at the end of blog post: P. Jarrod Barron (Mrs. Dorothy Barron. All Rights Reserved. 2012)

Cornucopia Illustration: Peipei (Mrs. Dorothy Barron. All Rights Reserved. 2012)

United States History Images above: Hatzigeorgiou, Karen J. U.S. History Images. 2011. Online. Internet. <http://ushistoryimages.com>.

 Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Founder

Parents Taking Charge in Education   http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PTCnEducation

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrsDBarronPTCnEd

E-mail: barron.dorothy@yahoo.com

 

Back to the Basics in Education 5 Pt. Series

Back to the Basics in Education 5 Pt. Series

Pt. 1 An Environment conducive to Learning - Beauty makes a difference By Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Between the two above schools, which school is more appealing, inviting and welcoming? Which school would you prefer and prefer your child attend?

On today, Parents Taking Charge in Education begins its Back to the Basics in Education 5 Pt. Series. We will look at how beautifying our school environment can be conducive to learning; how small acts and actions and going back to some basics in Education have and can make positive differences and an impact on students, staff and others involved in and/or with Education, thus accomplishing some education goal and objectives. If you have not viewed our introduction video for this series at Parents Taking Charge in Education YouTube Channel, please feel free to check it out at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k8P3axb-oY&feature=plcp  

On today In Part 1, our topic is An Environment conducive to Learning – Beauty makes a difference.ing back tome basic can make

Most, if not all enjoy beauty – it can be appealing, soothing, inviting, welcoming, uplifting, inspiring and pleasing to the sense of sight. Many seek, strive for and/or surround themselves with beauty; it can also motivate.

With this being the case, why do we subject some children to some of the most dilapidated, austere, outdated and ugly school buildings?

What does your child’s school building reflect from both outside and inside? On the outside, do flowers and plants adorn the exterior during spring and early fall; is it neat and attractive from street level regardless of the season? Does it appear welcoming and cheerful or the opposite? Remember, your child spends 6-8 hours; five days a week at/in his/her school building and such can have a lasting impression and impact upon a child.

It is the little things - the basics that we sometime overlook or have forgotten and which can make a positive difference to children during their early nurturing years and education. Children of a great nation deserve the best - great schools and a great education!

A Suggestion

With school Educators having enough to contend with; may I offer a suggestion? Establish a beautification committee and invite staff, Parents and Community to assist with the special project. Get suggestions from students - afterall, it is primarily their mini-community. Compile a plan, get it accomplished and preferably overseen by a person(s) who will have the time, skills and/or would enjoy the project. Don’t forget to give that person(s) some public recognition!

Credit: Illustration of Two Schools above: Peipei

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Founder

Parents Taking Charge in Education   http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PTCnEducation

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrsDBarronPTCnEd

E-mail: barron.dorothy@yahoo.com

Parent- School PTA - PTO Leaders: Being more effective in your Leadership Role by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Parent- School PTA - PTO Leaders: Being more effective in your Leadership Role by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Are you new to the leadership role of a Parent Teacher Association or Organization? Leading your school’s PTA/PTO requires great responsibility and was at one time new to each person who held the position. The key to being effective is to become organized; obtain knowledge of your responsibilities and set reasonable goals.

Parents Taking Charge in Education was to devote this month to providing a brief introduction to PTA/PTO Presidents in an effort to assist you with realizing those things needed to be most effective in your leadership role; however, we will be taking the next 2-4 weeks off.   What I would like to suggest is that you concentrate on the following subject topics and tips; they can serve as guidelines to help you begin learning and getting organized, especially if you are a first time leader. You have the rest of summer to do so. Are you ready?

Agenda

I.                    Your Role as PTA/PTO Leader – preparing self to lead – basic qualities and needs

II.                  You and Your Officers

III.                You and the Principal- Chief School Administrator(s)

IV.                You and Parents and students

PTA/PTO Presidents, there is a plethora of information which can assist you with your duties and responsibilities, but can be overwhelming to new or first time PTA/PTO Presidents. Realize that:

ü    Gaining and becoming confident in your role as Leader of your Parent-School Organization –starts with acquainting self with the basics. Remember, you will not learn all that is needed overnight or without actually functioning in the role.

ü    Communication is very important - establish a number of methods in which to correspond with all involved sectors and do so.

ü    Devising a written Plan in advance with a budget along with a Plan of Action that is executable, allows for flexibility and to which changes can be incorporated if needed are instrumental to accomplishing the goal and achieving success. 

Becoming comfortable with your role, having knowledge of the basics and an actionable plan can assist you with building your confidence and others having confidence in you. Having a plan and plan of action will make it easier for all to work together in accomplishing that which can positively serve your Parents, Educators, students and the community.  Your PTA/PTO and local school are separate entities with a common goal – helping students and children achieve and succeed.

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Founder

Parents Taking Charge in Education   http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PTCnEducation

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrsDBarronPTCnEd

E-mail: barron.dorothy@yahoo.com

Parents Taking Charge in Education Features the Website - KidInfo.com

Parents Taking Charge in Education Features the Website – KidInfo.com

by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Parents, there are many choices and quality websites and material on the Internet to assist you and your children, but the problem for many is finding the time to surf for long periods of time and locate the best and most feasible information. That is why when Parents Taking Charge in Education finds such websites, materials and information, we bring them to your attention and/or feature them at our blog. I recently came across Ms. Linda Guterba's Website, KidInfo.com; both the site and site owner are engaging and professional. After I requested permission to feature her and her site, I requested information about both. She supplied such a professional introduction, I have decided to let Ms. Guterba tell you in her own words - who she is; what she does and the services she provide at KidInfo.com. She also operates a sister site for teachers.

Now, from Ms. Linda Guterba –

I have been a teacher for 37 years and have worked diligently to create KidInfo.com, a FREE educational web directory that saves parents, students, and teachers valuable time by providing - in ONE website directory - the BEST Preschool and K-12 quality educational websites, videos, and powerpoints. As a teacher, I know how much time it takes to search for quality websites to complete homework assignments, or enhance and reinforce any teacher's given curriculum! Trying to locate appropriate and relevant information on the worldwide web using popular search engines, and then ''sifting'' through key word search results can be tedious, time consuming, and often bring irrelevantresults. This is the very reason I created KidInfo.com and its sister site, TeacherTidbytes.com. I have done the searching for students, teachers, and parents, and organized the web for them!

KidInfo.com is UNIQUELY different from other educational web directories, as it is easy to navigate, and is the ONLY educational web directory that organizes websites according to SPECIFIC, rather than general, curriculum studied in schools throughout the United States, and most countries around the world. The links within KidInfo.com and its companion site, Teacher Tidbytes, are checked weekly for dead links, and new links are added on a continual basis.
Since its creation, KidInfo.com has become a highly recommended homework and reference resource for students, teachers, and parents. It has been listed in the USA TODAY as a "best educator pick", recommended by Woman's Day magazine as one of the 6 top educational homework help web resources, and recommended by The American Library Association, the Librarians' Internet Index, and the Internet Public Library. In addition, KidInfo.com was just recently added as a top homework and reference resource to the UK School Zone (a site reviewed by United Kingdom teachers for relevant curriculum web resources).

         Hats Off to Ms. Linda Guterba; thank you for making a difference in Education!

Notes: 1.) Mrs. Dorothy Barron has listed the above website for information purposes, only; she has not received an endorsement from the above website. 2.) For Access and/or use of materials at websites you visit, please check the specific website’s Terms and Conditions.

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Founder

Parents Taking Charge in Education http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com   

E-mail: barron.dorothy@yahoo.com

The Little Boy Who Could Run by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

The Little Boy Who Could Run by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Once there was a little boy who could run very, very fast. In fact, he would rather run than walk. When he began school, of course running inside the school was not allowed. The teachers, principal and other students would often remind him not to run, but he kept forgetting. Due to school budget cuts and focus on testing and retesting in preparation of standardized tests, there was no longer time for physical education (P.E.) or events such as May Day, which allowed students to show off physical skills and abilities. All he ever heard was “stop running,” “slow down,” and “do not run.” He heard the same at home from his parents; “stop running in the house” and “slow down or you will fall.” It took the little boy a couple of years to finally remember to stop running and he did stop running, at least around and in the presence of grown-ups.

Others did not realize that running was the little boy’s talent. Not being very good in school and constantly told not to do something he absolutely loved and was extremely good at adversely affected his confidence and self-esteem.

When the little boy reached middle school, his friends who knew his love of running decided to take matters in their own hands. Before rehearsals for the track team occurred, his friends manipulated events that got the school coaches on the track field and the friends challenged the little boy to a race. There was no contest; the little boy was in his element and boy did he run! The coaches never without their stopwatches hit their timer buttons and stared with amazement at the little boy. The friends had long dropped into the background and when the little boy came to the finish line he kept going; the coaches hit their stopwatches again and the little boy repeated the performance only this time breaking his first record. The coaches raced down to the finish line and asked the little boy why he had never brought it to their attention that he could run? The little boy look at them and simply replied, “I have always been told by adults to stop running or do not run.”  Needless to say, the little boy was back to running with approval this time from adults. Feeling good and accepted for his talent and ability to run his confidence and self-esteem improved as did his grades.

Parents, are you providing opportunities for your child to use and/or showcase his/her talents and abilities? Educators, is there at least one subject or activity within your school in which each student engages and accomplishes that enables the child to feel good about self and which can increase the student’s confidence to master school subjects and other skills and activities?

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Founder

Parents Taking Charge in Education http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

E-mail: barron.Dorothy@yahoo.com

Parents Taking Charge in Education: Part VI.– Parents and Community: Your Stake in Society’s Most Precious Resource- Our Children by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Parents Taking Charge in Education: Part VI.– Parents and Community: Your Stake in Society’s Most Precious Resource- Our Children by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

As we continue with the discourse on Parents stake and/or role as it pertains to society’s most precious resource- our children, I will offer a couple of more thoughts and one additional example and conclude with the community’s stake.

5.   Deliberate measures incorporated to prevent parents from being involved- Educators and others often desire to involve parents when advantageous to their agenda and shut parents out when the opposite exists.

I will share another quick example which dispels the myth that impoverished parents do not care about their children’s education. I volunteered at a school which sat within a government housing complex and most parents were below poverty level. The school was a large brick three story building; during the winter, the temperature inside was below freezing; in the spring and upon return summer/fall, the temperatures often ranged from 100-110 degrees. The food within the cafeteria soured between it having been cooked and students’ consumption of it. Students unable to work were often slumped over desks from heat exhaustion; often, in winter hands were too cold and numb to hold a pencil. Books in the library were so old; they simply crumbled in one’s hands when handled. Once again to curtail a long story, the school board ignored the parents, students’ plight and school community when requested to hold school board meeting within the impoverished communities. The library books and a show and tell were publicly taken to an upscale school where the school board did hold school board meetings.

When the impoverished parents took to the streets outside the impoverished school to protest conditions, 1) the invited media in one instance after having noticed the goodly number of parents present chose not to cover the impoverished parents’ plight; they instead drove in the opposite direction; 2) parents names were taken down and they were threatened with eviction should they persist by the housing authority and 3) those who persisted in protest, some of whom did not live in government housing were offered well paying jobs to get them out of the school and preoccupied with a job.

6.   Parents, consider preparing yourself for a role in politics, whether on the school board or at one of three government levels. Individuals who usually have the greatest interest in children are those who actually have children at school age level.

The Community’s Stake

The community’s role can actually be described in two words: “Assist” and/or “Supplement” as needed. We know that parents cannot do it all alone when it comes to parenting and raising children, it takes the entire community’s involvement. We are also aware of the necessity at times for others to assume responsibility and authority as guardian or caregiver of others’ children, but if at all possible, attempt to keep the parent(s) actively involved. The community consists of family, extended family members, neighbors, and individuals and entities from the above mentioned sectors. We all can make a positive contribution regardless of how small.

When it comes to community’s involvement from schools, some schools should become more community orientated. I recalled one year when mostly homebound as a result of my bus accident and after having moved to Tennessee, I assisted a couple of students with their schoolwork. In an effort to adequately prepare to assist the students at that time, I needed to borrow a textbook; the students of course needed theirs. I called the local school and explained what I was doing and requested to borrow a textbook. First, I was given the run-around, told someone would check the school policy and get back with me. Not hearing from the school, I recalled a week or so later and was informed the school did not have any extra textbooks to lend out. Yet, we insist we desire parent and community involvement within our schools.

     

Parents, when all has been said and done, you remain ultimately responsible for your child/ren? While I may not always agree with some parents’ decision(s), I have come to respect the fact that the final decision of how a parent chooses to raise his/her child/ren and that parent’s selected educational setting (inclusive of the child’s needs and well-being) should ultimately be the decision of the parent. Society should be careful of removing parents’ authority while expecting those same parents to effectively parent their children.

Parents Taking Charge in Education’s goal with many of the posts leading up to today’s has been to get us to view some of the obstacles and challenges in an effort to get us (Parents and all those who have a stake in education and our children) to address these serious obstacles and challenges and move forward. Until we do, I am afraid we will continue floundering, spinning our wheels and going around in circles. Sometimes, the solutions are so simple we tend to overlook them. Thank you for your time and attention; this concludes our 6 Pt. Series- Your Stake in Society’s Most Precious Resource- Our Children.

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Author

Parents Focused on Education at http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

E-mail: barron.Dorothy@yahoo.com