Learning At Home and Partnerships by Andromeda Freeman https://padlet.com/andromeda_freeman/learningathome_partnerships Module 7 Assignment - TECA 1303.BX1 en-us 2016-11-29 03:10:13 UTC 2016-11-29 05:29:42 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Apple.png Building Bridges from Walls andromeda_freeman https://padlet.com/andromeda_freeman/learningathome_partnerships/wish/140394900 Parents and teachers both spend much of their time making decisions that affect children. Because of these different roles, and the shared desire to help the children, conflict is likely to occur. Here are four common barriers faced by parents when supporting teachers - and solutions!

Barrier 1: Time
  • Parents have jobs of their own, other children or family to care for, personal/religious obligations, and household responsibilities. With frequently conflicting schedules, it can be difficult to find time to meet one another frequently, much less be involved in the classroom.
  • Solution:  Let the teacher work to find time that is best to meet or have you come in the classroom. Communicating your desire to be more active in the classroom is very encouraging as well as providing him or her with your schedule. This way the teacher can work around your schedule to give you the the opportunity to be more involved.
Barrier 2: Busyness
  • Although teachers are undoubtedly busy, the perceptions that teachers are "too busy" to talk with parents or meet with them is inaccurate. Teachers benefit from more interactions with parents, in order to meet the goals and needs of the students. Your involvement and partnership is essential for improving the education of your child, and no teacher is too busy to better the education of their students.
  • Solution: Try to remind yourself that the teachers are there for your child and yourself. They want what is best for your child, which is as much parent participation as possible! Try to cast aside worries of "bothering" the teachers and send them an email, stop to chat before or after school, or call them if you have their number. Dispelling the idea that they are too busy is mostly up to the teachers, but putting yourself out there can truly help, especially if you communicate that you feel they might be too busy. Teachers may not even realize they are conveying that message.
Barrier 3: Old Ideas of Parent Involvement
  • Sometimes schools can be behind on structure and living patterns of families. The timing, content, and form of family involvement, activities, and expectations may be outdated and not compatible with your lifestyle. Traditional times, such as 10:30 AM on a weekday, for conferences and meetings are not accessible for all families. If parents are unable to meet at these times they are less able to build a good relationship with the school or the teachers.
  • Solution: If you cannot make it to conferences or meetings, let the administration or principals know that conference times are inaccessible for you! It is most effective for the ones who schedule these conferences to hear directly from the parents. If you are uncomfortable with this, voice your concerns to the teacher and ask them to advocate on your behalf.
Barrier 4: Issues of Trust
  • Building trust between the teacher and the students is one matter, but achieving that with parents is often a difficult task. Many parents may feel as though the teacher's views or lessons to not coincide with their culture, values, and goals for their family. Even worse, some feel as though the teacher does not listen or respect their opinion.
  • Solution: Trust involves accepting each other and opening your minds to the viewpoints of others. Teachers should not be patronizing or condescending and should respect your role and values as parents. However, if you feel this is not the case, first bring it up to the teacher and try to collaborate in order to fix the problem. If this does not help, or the teacher retaliates and is dismissive, bring the issue up to a counselor or administration. Your child is not well served if there is no trust between each party.

]]> 2016-11-29 03:14:41 UTC https://padlet.com/andromeda_freeman/learningathome_partnerships/wish/140394900 Home Activity: Pass it on! andromeda_freeman https://padlet.com/andromeda_freeman/learningathome_partnerships/wish/140396062 To encourage your little writer and support learning at home, "Pass it on" is a great activity suitable for three or more people.

Supplies:
  • Paper
  • Writing utensil (pen, marker, pencil, etc)
  • Table
  • At least 3 writers

Directions:
  1. Prepare a piece of paper by folding it horizontally as many times as possible creating 1 inch sections.
  2. Seat all of the writers in a circle.
  3. Begin with one of the writers creating the first sentence of a story.
  4. Pass the paper to the person to the right. This is the new writer. 
  5. Following the previous sentence, have the new writer add one more sentence to the story and then fold the paper over so only the sentence just written is visible.
  6. Repeat steps 4-5 until the paper is used up and the last writer concludes the story.
  7. Read aloud your funny story!


From http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/writing-activities/6-ways-to-encourage-young-writers
]]> 2016-11-29 03:27:35 UTC https://padlet.com/andromeda_freeman/learningathome_partnerships/wish/140396062 Home Activity: Straw Roller Coaster andromeda_freeman https://padlet.com/andromeda_freeman/learningathome_partnerships/wish/140397722 The perfect activity for rainy days and with low-cost materials, making your own roller coasters is a good physics activity, designed to have adult supervision.

Supplies:
  • A cardboard box or a piece of cardboard for the base
  • Straws – solid color ones are fun!
  • Scissors
  • A hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • A ping pong ball
  • A bowl to catch the ball at the bottom (optional)

Directions:
  1. Prepare a cardboard surface or box and set it on a table for a base.
  2. Begin making the roller coaster track by making 2 long supports out of straws, glued to stand up vertically, 1 inch apart from each other on the base.
  3. Cut 2 slightly shorter straw supports and glue them vertically 1 inch apart from each other about five inches from the previous supports. 
  4. Glue two straws horizontally connecting the pair of supports to make a ramp. 
  5. Continue this process, turning the ramps to make a roller coaster!
  6. Once the straw track is complete, place a bowl at the bottom to catch the ping pong ball. 
  7. Try out the roller coaster with the ping pong ball!
  8. See link for pictures and an example!


From http://frugalfun4boys.com/2016/08/14/engineering-project-kids-build-straw-roller-coaster/
]]> 2016-11-29 03:44:49 UTC https://padlet.com/andromeda_freeman/learningathome_partnerships/wish/140397722 Web Resource 1: National Science Teachers Association andromeda_freeman https://padlet.com/andromeda_freeman/learningathome_partnerships/wish/140403455 http://www.nsta.org/parents/

This site provides links and lists of recommendations for supporting STEM education. This includes parent involvement ideas, tips for busy parents, science competitions for ALL ages, lists of science children's books, and resources for their science teacher!]]> 2016-11-29 05:17:23 UTC https://padlet.com/andromeda_freeman/learningathome_partnerships/wish/140403455 Web Resource 2: PBS andromeda_freeman https://padlet.com/andromeda_freeman/learningathome_partnerships/wish/140403936 http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-to-school/supporting-your-learner/

This page provides links to assist parents understand their role in their child's education, how to help with homework, what to do when their student is struggling in school, and how to help their child prepare for tests. There are also links about how to be a positive learning role model for your child and how to be actively involved in the classroom.]]> 2016-11-29 05:23:55 UTC https://padlet.com/andromeda_freeman/learningathome_partnerships/wish/140403936