The Kids Speak Out

Kids and Behavior Problems in School

School teachers and school administrators are reporting they are seeing an increase in behavior problems being acted out in threatening ways.  They are beginning to believe it is because there is the absence of physical activities and free, creative time for the kids to express themselves.

 

It is interesting to note that other countries are looking into or have in place a ten

minute for every 40 to 50 minutes of students sitting all day at their desks.  This relates back to the article I wrote this week on Kids Needing Fresh Air:  Kids need recesses to be better students.

 

This is another call for parents to get involved in their kids school PTO and help to work with school administrators in providing a break during the day for your kids and incorporate fresh air for students.  It is vitally important that parents get involved in school systems to volunteer and help in making this happen.

 

 

Homework Tips-Getting Students to Complete Homework

School is out for the summer!  A lot of students and parents are relieved because the struggle of getting homework completed is over.  I was impressed when I read Adam Waxler's article on an effective tool for increasing the kids chances of getting their homework done.  So parents here is an opportunity to consider what Adam is suggesting and make the necessary chances to encourage your kid to get homework completed for the up-coming year.

Adam Waxler makes the following recommendations to parents on helping kids with their homework by creating a homework environment.

"Homework, if used correctly, can be quite an effective tool for increasing student achievement.

Unfortunately, as many teachers know, getting students to complete homework can be a frustrating task to say the least.

Teachers try all sorts of strategies to help students complete homework.  We have them write the homework in their planners/agendas, we get them started on the homework in class to clear up any confusion, we post the homework on websites and/or blogs etc.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, when it comes to checking/collecting homework the next day we see the same old thing…many students simply do not do the homework, or they don’t complete the homework.

Usually, at this point, teachers start assigning detention, making phone calls home etc.

However, one homework strategy that is often overlooked is getting parents involved with your homework policy from the beginning. No, I don’t mean just letting them know the percentage of the grade and the consequences for incomplete homework, but rather what the parents can do to help their child complete the homework.

Here’s a list of some homework strategies that teachers can share with their students’ parents:

1. Set up a consistent place for homework to be done. Homework should be done in the same place every night – not on the couch one night, at the dinner table the next, and the bedroom the following night.

2. Organize your homework spot to maximize efficiency.  Have a box with everything your child might need to complete any given homework assignment…pencils, erasers, glue, scissors, markers, paper etc.  This will greatly reduce homework procrastination.

3. Help your child establish a consistent schedule for completing homework.  Depending on the child’s after school schedule, it may not be possible to do the homework at the same time every night.  Therefore, it may be wise to sit down Sunday night each week and create the homework schedule for the upcoming week.

4. Do not sit with your child and do the homework together.  The purpose of the homework is for your child to practice what he or she has learned in class.  If your child cannot do the homework by herself then you need to contact the teacher.

5. After your child completes the homework, discuss it…What did he or she learn from the homework? What steps were easy? Difficult?

6. Your child should spend roughly 10 minutes per grade level on homework. For example, a 2nd  grader should spend 20 minutes on homework while an 8th grader should spend 80 minutes.  Again, if your child continues to consistently spend more time than this on homework make sure to contact your child’s teacher.

Many parents are just not aware of the best way to help their child complete the homework. By providing a list of helpful homework tips for parents, teachers will see an increase in homework completion and therefore, an increase in academic achievement."

Are you still having problems getting your students to complete homework? To gain an arsenal of effective homework strategies make sure to read... "eTeach: A Teacher Resource for Learning the Strategies of Master Teachers" @ [http://www.teachingteacher.com/]http://www.TeachingTeacher.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Waxler http://EzineArticles.com/?Homework-Tips---Getting-Students-to-Complete-Homework&id=821228

Let Kids Have Fun

I printed an file article from www.News-leader.com last July 2006 on "Let Kids Have Fun".  In support of Sarah King's article on "The Kids speak Out" blog on February 27, 2007 on "Don't Be Careful" I am going to summarize the contents in the article.

Life gets extremely boring for kids if a little danger is not in it

Young boys, particuarly, crave danger.  Sometimes they get hurt and then they get better

Bumps, brusies and brokens are seen as a rite of passge for kids

Kids and adults need to learn how to respect and handle danger

Some school districts in the states of Kanasa, Wyoming, South Carolina are banning games from recess; such as touch football, soccer, tag and dodgeball.  The reasoning states....kids may get bruises, twist an ankle or even break a leg or an arm.  But guess what else?  They might just have a little fun.

News-Leader says 'The next step could be enacting rules to ensure no child ever gets winded.  Perhaps recess will be replaced completely with free time at the computer, instead of running around and playing games, kids could sit around play with their Gameboys.'

Parents worry about their kids getting hurt.  Teacher and school officials worry about kids geting hurt.

But, yeh, don't worry so much that you prevent the kids from having fun!

Kids and School

"A Weighty Issue" is a report that the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that about 7,500 emergency room visits each year that are caused by injuries related to backpacks or book bags. Read on.....