Articles and Resources
Confused about Common Core Standards?
The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy. http://www.corestandards.org/ Check out Brockport's Report Card https://reportcards.nysed.gov/ Confused about APPR? http://engageny.org/resource/guidance-on-new-yorks-annual-professional-performance-review-law-and-regulations/ Internet Safety Web sites www.NetSmartz.org www.SafeKids.com www.SafetyEd.org www.GetNetWise.org Organizations: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) 1-800-843-5678 www.missingkids.com NetSmartz Workshop 1-800-843-5678 www.NetSmartz.org (look for the Parents and educators section) www.NetSmartzKids.org (safe site for kids that does not link to any outside sources, pledges, age-appropriate info: K-2, 3-6, etc.) CyberTipline 1-800-843-5678 www.cybertipline.com collection point for tips and leads in reference to pornography involving children and exploitation of children on the Internet. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces (ICAC) www.icactraining.org assists state and local law-enforcement agencies in responding to cyber enticement and cases involving pornographic images of children Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) www.bgca.org Media and Technology Media messages from television, movies, music, and the Internet are a daily part of our children's lives. While electronic media can open up new worlds of rich learning experiences to children, they can also convey messages about violence, sex, commercialism, stereotyping, and other themes that worry parents. When children are exposed to images and messages they do not understand and are unable to interpret, parents will want to intervene. For example, when children see smoking, drinking, and drug use in the media, parents will want talk about it with their children and guide them in taking a critical look at how cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs are portrayed. Here are a few other suggestions on how parents can protect their children from harmful topics conveyed through electronic media
Source: National PTA Parent Resources See the files below for 3 related articles: “A Combined Strategy for Internet Safety” “The Newest Breed of Bully: The Cyberbully” “Keeping it Real: Teaching Good TV Habits” Test Taking Strategies – How Parents Can Help According to a recent article written by Stephanie Fehr, NYS PTA Education Chair, in the February 2005 issue of New York Parent Teacher magazine, a publication of the New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc.,”…research suggests that students who are test-wise are more successful in testing situation because they are able to follow instructions and directions.” She further states that the strategies listed below are usually taught in the classroom to the students:
Resources for test taking strategies and/or sample test questions are: The New York State Education Department www.nysed.gov The New York State United Teachers Union (NYSUT) www.nysut.org www.schwablearning.org for study and test taking strategies for kids with learning disabilities Additional suggestions for parents include:
Many teachers have written to me over the years, frustrated with how unprepared their students are—and they don't mean academically. Chris, a kindergarten teacher, wrote what many teachers have expressed, "I would love it if you could write a 10 tips for parents to help us teachers do our increasingly demanding job. Many parents of children I teach have left the job of spiritual, character, and social/emotional education to me. I can't do it all in addition to teaching academic skills. I'm getting burned out and pretty soon won't have the energy left to nourish one child let alone 25." So here goes—my 10 tips: 1. Create a smooth takeoff each day. Give your child a hug before she ventures out the door and you head to work. Look her in the eye, and tell her how proud you are of her. Your child's self-confidence and security will help her do well both in school and in life. 2. Prepare for a happy landing at the end of the day when you reconvene. Create a predictable ritual such as 10–20 minutes listening to your child talk about his day—before you check phone messages, read the mail, or begin dinner. That way you are fully present to listen, and your child has a touchstone he can count on between school and home. 3. Fill your child's lunchbox with healthy snacks and lunches. Have dinner at a reasonable hour and a healthy breakfast. A well-balanced diet maximizes your child's learning potential. 4. Include calm, peaceful times in your children's afternoons and evenings. Maintain a schedule that allows them to go to school rested, and if they are sick, have a system in place so they are able to stay home. 5. Remember it's your children's homework, not yours. Create a specific homework space that's clutter-free and quiet. Encourage editing and double- checking work, but allow your kids to make mistakes, as it's the only way teachers can gauge if they understand the material. It's also how children learn responsibility for the quality of their work. 6. Fill your child's life with a love for learning by showing him your own curiosity, respecting his questions, and encouraging his efforts. 7. Fill your home with books to read, books simply to look at, and books that provide answers to life's many questions. The public or school library is an excellent resource. 8. Be a partner with your child's teacher. When you need to speak to him or her in reference to a specific issue with your child, do it privately, not in front of your child. Make a point never to criticize your child's teacher in front of your child. 9. Set up a system where routine items are easily located—such as backpacks, shoes, signed notices. Create a central calendar for upcoming events to avoid the unexpected. 10. Tuck a "love note" in your child's lunch bag to let her know how special she is. Knowing they are loved makes it easier for children to be kind to others. Source: National PTA, PTA Parent Newsletter, August 16, 2005. Adopt a Classroom Adopt-A-Classroom a nonprofit organization that partners donors with classrooms, in order to provide additional funds for the teachers in our school. Once adopted, teachers have unfettered discretion to use the donations to purchase materials and resources for your classroom. www.adoptaclassroom.org Helping Your Student Get the Most Out of Homework By National PTA & National Education Association RESOURCES: National Education Association Child and Family Web Guide Family Education Network National Parent Information Network US Department of Education Many students try to avoid it, but teaching and learning research indicates that children who spend more time on regularly assigned, meaningful homework, on average, do better in school. This article answers questions many people have about homework. It gives specific advice for helping your children. Here are some quick hints to help your child get the most out of homework. Homework Hints
Source: National PTA, PTA Parent Newsletter, August 16, 2005 Related Files
Getting Your Children To Eat Right (DOC -30 KB) Helping Families Make Wise Food Choices (DOC -43 KB) What Constitutes a Quality Physical Education Program? (DOC -28 KB) Childhood Obesity (DOC -33 KB) The Need for Physicl Education... (DOC -35 KB) A Combined Strategy for Internet Safety (DOC -50 KB) The Newest Breed of Bully (DOC -40 KB) Keeping It Real (DOC -29 KB) doc file: You need the Microsoft Word program, a free Microsoft Word viewer, or a program that can import Word files in order to view this file. To learn more about the free Microsoft Word Viewer, visit the Microsoft Word website. |