Let’s Get Ready with Cedar Valley Publishing

Communication. Comunicación. Koh-moo-nee-kah-see-OWN. No relationship can thrive without clear and respectful interchange, especially between parents and teachers. Why is this concept so widely accepted but the implementation often so difficult?

There are enough challenges facing educators called upon to tell parents how their child is doing. Add to this challenge the lack of a common language and the anxiety level increases dramatically. With the growing number of English language learners in early nationwide, many educators are struggling with how to bridge the communication gap with parents from Spanish-speaking cultures.

Some suggest that the sole remedy is to become fluent in Spanish before the next parent-teacher conference. Others recommend grabbing the first person they see who knows some Spanish. What’s missing from both discussions is how cultural norms affect interpersonal communication.

It would be great if we were all multilingual. But it takes a long time to learn a language. Whether or not one pursues language study or not, the underlying recipe for success is to learn more about Hispanic cultures, which allows individuals to communicate in a way increases the chance of getting a response. Communicating through words without the appropriate cultural context is one of the main reasons why the memos sent home aren’t effective, even though they’re translated into Spanish. Words detached from their cultural context are sometimes meaningless.

A good starting point is to discover the difference between the notion of “well educated” in modern-day culture vs. “bien educado” in Hispanic culture. You’ll better understand that there’s more to communication than just language. Learn more by reading about The Cultural Umbrella at http://www.bentiva.com/Cultural_Umbrella.html.

Barbara Benjamin-Treviño
Bentiva Education Solutions ~ Resources for Cross-Cultural Communication
817/946-6162, barbara@bentiva.com, www.bentiva.com

Teacher Movies That Inspire

For me, one of the first things I do to relax during the summer is to pick up a page turner spy thriller and catch up on some teacher movies that will inspire me for next year. 

• The Emperor’s Club (2002) 

I rarely buy movies after I’ve viewed them. 

This movie is the exception. 

The Emperor’s Club with Kevin Kline is one of my favourite teacher movies. It showed me that although I can try my best, do all I can for my students, I can’t “fix” them all. There will be failures, especially with students whom I tried to reach, but for whom I was unable to change their behavior. There will be students you can’t stop for whatever reason, from going down the wrong path. 

The Emperor’s Club more than any other movie, shows the internal struggles of the classroom teacher.

This movie also shows that for every student you can’t change, there will be hundreds of students where you will make a difference.

Those you will inspire to do their best through all the little things you do with them all year long.

Even though they don’t tell you or acknowledge the impact you have on them, in later years, they will remember and be grateful for the things you did.

Other movies I’ve enjoyed:

• Freedom Writers (2007)
• Stand and Deliver (1988)
• The Ron Clark Story (2006)
• The Karate Kid (1984)
• Glory Road (2006)
• Hoosiers (1986)
• Coach Carter (2005)
• Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)
• Renaissance Man (1994)

To read reviews of these movies and others, check out The Internet Movie Database, the biggest, best, most award-winning movie and TV site on the planet:  http://www.imdb.com/

Finding Inspiration in Literature and Movies (FILM):  http://www.youthfilmproject.org/programs.htm

This site features curriculum materials to support a curricula for youth that uses movies to promote literacy, learning and service.

If you have any favourite movies (or books) that help you get motivated, just e-mail me and I’ll include them in a future mailing.

Marjan Glavac
marjan@glavac.com
HowToMakeaDifference.com

P.S. If you want to know more about Marjan Glavac’s products and services or to hire him as a speaker, visit to the website - OR e-mail him.

“There are no boundaries for the journeys of the mind.”
 
Copyright 2008 - Marjan Glavac

At almost every single parent workshop I give, someone will ask me “Stacey, how did you decide between public, private, Christian or home school?”

My answer seems to shock many, yet inspire others. 

As a family, back in February of 2004, we visited all the schools in our area:  public, private, Christian, and even tried a few days of home schooling so we could make our decision as a family.  On our visits, we would ask to sit in and visit with every Kindergarten class.  Every principal commended us for making this a family decision and we were shocked when we found that we were in the 1% club—only 1% of parents ever actually do what we were doing.  I was shocked!

We walked the halls and ate lunch in every school cafeteria as a family. My husband was a strong supporter of his Christian Lutheran School that he had attended as a child. But, the 30-minute drive one-way was less appealing to me, especially during a Wisconsin winter, as I was the designated bus driver. 

I was a product of public school because I lived in a rural setting with no other options within 50 miles.  We discussed each school, looking for input from our soon to be 5 and 3 year old daughters.  It was a surprise to my husband and I, that we had unanimously selected the public school, three minutes from our home.  Heidi selected Mrs. Neitzke as her Kindergarten teacher, so we sent the school a letter for teacher request and completed her pre-Kindergarten screening and enrollment paperwork.

Because I was a stay-at-home Mom, I promised my family that I would embrace our new public school with a home school, Christian mentality:

• We would, as a family, become involved in the PTA.
• I would be the driver in charge of dropping off and picking up the kids.
• I would volunteer every month.
• I would travel and be involved in all class trips.
• I would get to personally know each child’s entire class because studies show children are less like to bully your children if you know their name.
• I would “do lunch” everyday of that first week of Kindergarten with my child and then plan a lunch “date” with them every quarter staying to play at recess time too.
• I would work with my school to help find funding and grant opportunities. It is much easier than it sounds. Simply search the Internet for “educational grants” and your city or your state. Then search “community grants” and your city or your state. Then, work with your teachers to write the grant or pass it to your school’s grant writer.
• I know that I am my child’s first and best teacher!

Whichever method you chose to school your children, as long as it is a family decision, you (as a parent) are armed with confidence, and are actively involved in the education process; your children will succeed academically, socially, mentally and physically.
Copyright 2007, Stacey Kannenberg, Cedar Valley Publishing, Author of Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready For First Grade!

Care to share the steps you took to select your child’s educational path?  Perhaps your ideas will help make the process easier for another family.

Most schools will test a Kindergartener within the first month. Listed below are:

 5 Things a Kindergartener Need to Know during that period…

1. The upper case alphabet out of sequence or mixed up: B, D, X, K, J, M, O, etc.
2. The numbers to 10, out of sequence or mixed up:  2, 5, 9, 8, 1, 3, 4, etc.
3. Identify basic colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
4. Identify basic shapes: circle, diamond, rectangle, triangle, oval and square.
5. Identify basic coins: penny, nickel and dime.

As an early childhood education author, I highly recommend parents help prepare their son/daughter for their first parent/teacher conference for Kindergarten.  Your child should understand that at certain points of the school year, you will meet with his/her teacher to discuss how they can help him/her have a fun and successful school year. There’s nothing to worry about, as this is an opportunity to get to know his/her teacher better too.

As the year progresses, a Kindergartener will need to know the following things:

• Both upper and lower case letters.
• Numbers up to 30, out of sequence.
• More colors and shapes will be added including hexagon and octagon
• More coins will be added such as quarter and dollar.
• Name, address and phone number.
• To be able to get dressed for outside play.
• How to use the bathroom independently.

Knowing these basic benchmarks and preparing your child will help you both have a successful first formal year of school – in Kindergarten.

Copyright 2007, Stacey Kannenberg, Cedar Valley Publishing, Author of Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready For First Grade!

How’d you help your Kindergartener prepare?  What do you think of the advancement of Kindergarten these days?  Do you recall learning all of this before First Grade? 

Our family is committed to our school’s PTA.  We attend the meeting as a family and enjoy being involved in the social benefits it brings.  It is truly a fun way to get and stay involved in our children’s school.  Come on, what are you waiting for?

• Invite parents, teachers and kids to come to your next meeting and provide babysitting with a fun activity in another room for the kids.  Children who had a parent involved in education are more likely to be involved themselves as parents.
• Bring a healthy snack, water or fortified 100% juice for after the meeting and invite the kids to share ideas with the PTA, parents and teachers. Empowered kids mean successful kids.
• On PTA/PTO meetings day, pass out a sticker for the kids to wear home that says PTA/PTO Meeting Tonight to gently remind parents of the meeting and reiterate that kids are invited too. Keeping everyone involved is the key!
• Have a membership table at all school activities to recruit and inspire others to join and get involved.  When it’s fun, people want to come!
• Sounds like fun:  a brat fray; a car wash; a Christmas/Elf shop for kids to shop for parents and siblings; Fun Fair with games, clowns, bouncy houses, silent auctions, cake walks and guessing jars - to name a few.  
• Host a back to school picnic and greet the teachers, parents and kids the week before school starts to make everyone feel welcome and excited about the new school year.  The key to school success is to make it fun!
• Host a subject fair, such as Science Fair complete with a group of Mad Scientists who visit each classroom conducting experiments to generate interest in participating, or Art Fair with artists who visit each classroom creating masterpieces, or highlighting the classics to generate interest in participating.
• Raise money for school field trips or motivational speakers for assemblies to keep it fun for your children!
• Be a part of the school’s community and show your support, proudly!  If it’s not fun, you need to make it fun by recruiting fun, positive people and getting parents, teachers and kids all involved!!!

Copyright 2007, Stacey Kannenberg, Cedar Valley Publishing, Author of Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready For First Grade!

Already a member of your PTA/PTO?  How does your group strive to make it fun for both the adults and the children?  We’re always looking for new idea.  Care to share with us?

Parent Teacher Conferences are essential opportunities to find out how your child is doing in school.  It’s a time to ask questions and your opportunity to get to know your child’s teacher one-on-one.  Remember, as the parent, you are your child’s first and foremost teacher.  So if you have a question, ask it.  Find out how you can help and don’t be afraid of asking simply:  How can I help? 

Build a network of other parents within your child’s class and volunteer.  The easiest way to be involved is to just show up and make it fun.  Kudos to the Pigeon River Green Gang in Sheboygan, WI.  This group of parents, teachers and kids have been meeting for 6 years, every month and doing improvements to their school.  They have created walking paths, prairie settings, and pizza gardens by planting the basil, oregano, tomatoes, peppers and later having a pizza party or a salsa party for their school to eat the fruits of their labor.  WOW, and that was some yummy salsa they made!!! 

I was recently at Harvard, IL’s 4 year old Kindergarten to talk to parents, via an interpreter about how they can help their children be successful in school.  I told them that just by showing up and asking questions, they are showing their kids that they care.  I also talked about the importance of going through the backpack and folder every night, reading with their kids for 15 minutes and playing a repetitive game for 15 minutes, like jumping jacks and counting out loud as they go.  Stop, drop and listen to your child daily and ask open ended questions to help your child learn to communicate and be involved in school activities and functions and build a network of parents to make it a fun social experience as well.  It’s all about making it fun for the entire family!  If it’s not fun, you need to make some changes to make it fun.  Find new people that are fun and start networking!
 
Copyright 2007, Stacey Kannenberg, Cedar Valley Publishing, Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready For First Grade!

Got some neat ideas to make it fun?  We’d all love to hear them!  Don’t stop with us. Share them with teachers, other parents and your local PTA/PTO too!  We’re all in this together!