SPECIAL SECTION: TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
GET ‘EM UP AND READING
With cloudless blue skies and gorgeous
temperatures, many parents find it virtually
impossible to anchor their children down
to read books; however, that’s exactly what
parents must do. Some children are naturally
drawn to books while others need to be
coaxed. Nonetheless, even if your children
have avoided reading all summer, they can get
their reading muscles moving and ready to
start the school year when provided engaging
and fun books.
If your child is a struggling reader, find
books he or she can read so that reading is
enjoyable, not painful. Many popular books
have movie adaptations and for many kids,
knowing they can watch the movie after
they read the book can be a great motivator.
Creating crafts or doing outdoor activities
relating to books makes reading even more
fun when the sun is out. Some of the simplest
and best ideas can be found on Pinterest,
blogs, and homeschooling or teaching sites.
All these make the process of easing back into
reading less stressful and daunting.
SET PRIORITIES AND
SCHEDULING EARLY ON
In The Overscheduled Child by Rosenfeld
and Wise, the authors refer to children who
have every minute of their day planned and
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scheduled—thus leading to stressed-out and
unfocused kids. The authors have a point.
Children are naturally curious and excited
about participating in similar activities to their
peers or whatever seems exciting and novel
for them (which is just about everything),
but as parents, we need to curb a bit of that
enthusiasm. Even if your children are whip
smart and seem to have their extracurricular
activities and school work under control, that
“control” can be draining even without a child
knowing it. Discuss what activities, clubs or
sports occur during each season and rate the
ones the child wants to do the most to allow
for downtime. Time management often leads
to excellent stress management skills, and
what better way to prepare your child not only
for the school year, but for life.
UNDERSTAND THE “TESTING
FRENZY”
During the first three to four weeks
of classes, schools test children using
“benchmark” assessments. These assessments
are given to children in grades 3-8 to establish
a baseline—a starting point to measure
progress. Schools then give two to three
follow-up benchmark assessments to evaluate
how children are progressing and to predict
how well students will perform on t