Education Special Section
aspects of choosing a classroom that is right for a young learner.
Parents are playing a larger role in shaping their early learners
with the choice of play-based learning programs versus academic
learning programs. Play-based or child-centered programs focus
on the current interests of the child. Classrooms are set up in
different sections, such as a kitchen, home, science area, reading
nook, or water area, for kids to engage in social interactions
with others and learn valuable skills based from play. Academic
or didactic, teacher-directed programs are structured with a
curriculum involving planned activities guided by teachers and
designed to prepare students for a kindergarten-type setting.
Either method for learning prepares young children for their
future interactions, both socially and educationally. Finding the
learning style that best suits your own child’s needs will set him/
her up for success.
K-12 Education
It is early in education that students start to
become competent in utilizing the tools needed in
our society. Reading, writing, math and language skills are all
core competencies that need to be mastered at a young age and
are critical for a student’s success. Education is being shaped
by incorporating different styles of teaching, accessing new
technologies to enhance learning, and ensuring that students leave
high school with a sense of confidence to enter the workforce
or to continue on to higher education. A variety of trends,
disruptions and technologies are shaping the way K-12 schools
face their biggest challenges.
Engage Parents and Caregivers
Parents can’t advocate for their children if they aren’t given the
tools to do so. The National Education Association states that by
monitoring, supporting, and advocating for their students, parents
and caregivers can ensure that their children have an opportunity
to be successful in school. By working with your students to set
goals, make sure they are on track for academic success, holding
them responsible for their education, and advocating for them,
their peers, and their entire school community, you are doing a
service that will have a valuable outcome for all involved.
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WEST ALLEGHENY
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FALL 2018
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