School's Out - Time to Plan for Next School Year
School's out! No more early alarm clocks ringing...no more lunches to pack...no more mad rushes out the door to catch the bus! Summer provides a break from the routine of school. It's easy to put thoughts of teachers and learning in the same box with the report card and school papers. However, the end of the school year provides a natural time of re-evaluation. It is a good time to assess what went well last year and pinpoint area's for improvement next year. The following are questions that are important to consider as you evaluate the past year: * Did your child have problems understanding a specific subject? * Did your child have a good relationship with the teacher? * Did your child seem to relate well with their peers? * Did your child look forward to going to school most days? If your child needs reinforcing on a specific subject, you might consider exploring the internet together on that specific subject. Make finding interesting information a fun "together" time. If your child has had problems relating to peers, pick one of his classmates from last year and invite that person for a fun day. Help your child establish a few "one on one" relationships BEFORE the next school year starts. When looking forward to next years class assignment, keep in mind how your child learns best. There are a variety of learning styles (and your child probably learns differently than you). Below are some of the different learning styles as examples: If you are not sure of your child's learning style consider reading Cynthia Tobias book "The Way They Learn." Or explore her website at www.applest.com. Once you've evaluated your child's strengths and weaknesses in the last school year, and you've looked at the way he learns, it's time to evaluate what type of schooling will be best for him in the fall. Whether in public or private school you will want to talk to the teacher about the way your child learns. In addition, remember that the teacher also has a learning style that affects how they present information and it may be completely different from your child's. By knowing this ahead of time, you can work with your child so he can adjust to the different styles. Remember, the most important ingredient for your child's success in school next year is YOUR involvement today. Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.