OCR Text |
Show C6 Wednesday, August 16, 2006 .Vernal Express. Oil U )Q C Homework: how can help By Jennifer Petty Express Writer With the start of school also comes homework the thing that many kids (and parents) dread most about the school year. Teachers give homework home-work to students for several reasons. Homework is helpful in reviewing and practicing what was learned in class or preparing for the next day's class. Homework also teaches students about using other resources such as libraries and reference materials. Finally, homework allows a more thorough thor-ough investigation of topics than classroom time allows. Studies have shown that children chil-dren who spend more time on homework do better academically academi-cally and academic achievement achieve-ment leads to self esteem and ultimately, it contributes to success suc-cess in life. Parents are often at a loss as Extra curricular activities help kids to be well-rounded well-rounded individuals It's true, school is for learning learn-ing about history, writing, and math, but there are so many other things that can be learned outside the traditional classroom. The whole point of school is to help kids be well-rounded well-rounded individuals. It is for this reason that everyone every-one is required to take math even if they don't want to be an architect or engineer, or science sci-ence even if a child isn't going to eventually be a biologist. But if students only learn school subjects, a large part of education educa-tion may be missed. Extra curricular cur-ricular activities not only help with college scholarships or future jobs, but can help indi Enroll your child for a fun-filed learning year! Your child willl learn many skills and concepts such as writing, alphabet numbers, shapes, sorting, science, and creative expression. Classes are filing fast, so call or come by today tttt tt t . NEW BEGINNERS CLASS FOR FALL! Monday and Thursday evenings 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A REAL Family Values Activity! Glass starts September 7! 287 East 1 00 kids to how to help their children with homework, but not do it for them. There are three main skills that parents can teach their children to help them be more successful in homework and in school: organizational skills, time-management skills, and active study strategies. Organizational skills include having a regular, organized place to study. Planners that help students record assignments assign-ments and plan ahead for long-term projects are useful. Binders that are organized by topics help students keep track of completed assignments. Time-management includes learning how much time needs to be spent on each subject and studying for exams regularly not just the night before the test. Students need to be able to have a regular time to study or complete assignments. It also includes making time for breaks. viduals develop talents, identify iden-tify interests, and become more able to communicate and relate with other people. Schools offer many activities outside of the classroom. For elementary school students, stu-dents, the opportunities are somewhat limited, but some schools offer student councils for older students, Connections, drama clubs, science clubs and reading clubs. The community commu-nity offers sports teams, dance classes, or martial arts classes. Vernal Junior High offers student government, and athletic ath-letic teams. Vernal Middle School offers student council, yearbook, Little Britches Kids Klub Preschol 425 S. Vernal Avenue 435-781-0004 Korean KARATE 781-1323 www.vernaltangsoodo.com South, Suite 2 in the HALL building parents Parents can help their children chil-dren be "active learners." Instead of just reading a textbook, text-book, students can highlight important passages, write outlines, out-lines, take notes and even make up potential test questions about the material. Teachers can help parents identify the most effective strategies for each student. Besides teaching these skills, parents can help their student retain and recall information by asking questions and discussing dis-cussing information learned in class or by monitoring assignments assign-ments and asking the student to show and tell what they've done. The level of parental involvement involve-ment differs according to each child and their age, but at any age, parents can show active interest and help their student to learn how to study effectively. effective-ly. Connections, student help sessions, ses-sions, girls volleyball boys and girls basketball, wrestling, band, choral group, art club, and intramural sports. Uintah High School offers athletic teams, yearbook, and a variety of clubs. Schooling from home: an alternative to the public system While Uintah School District students are getting ready to head back to school, their peers who do not attend public pub-lic school are getting ready to hit the books too. While most school age children attend public pub-lic school, a number of parents are turning to home schooling as an alternative to traditional classrooms. Pam Clinch, of Vernal, has home schooled all her children. "Years ago I felt there were things that they weren't getting at school," said Clinch. "I felt we could have a good time and it would give us freedom from a system." Clinch hastened to add that she is not against public school. "We have a great school system and teachers. Our district is great working with kids," she said. She also added that home schooling isn't for everyone, in fact one of Clinch's children did not do well in home schooling school-ing and she put him in public school. "Each child is different. Parent and teacher communication is student success Most parents and teachers recognize the importance of effectively communicating about student activities and progress, but often the messages mes-sages about the student are lost. Parents sometimes don't want to hear about problems their student may be experiencing experienc-ing and possibly the amount of time it takes to effectively communicate com-municate prohibits it from happening. hap-pening. Fortunately, in today's information infor-mation age, it is easier than ever to keep communication lines open. Parent-teacher conferences con-ferences are a start at providing provid-ing a chance for parents and educators to discuss a student's work, but even then there are unspoken things that parents par-ents and teachers want each other to know. Here are a few things that, though they may be unsaid, are just as important impor-tant for parents and teachers to know. Ten things parents might not say but want teachers to know: I know how my child acts at home, but I want to know how he acts at school. Can you tell me pything that will help me understand my child better? Hoyjis mylchild's personality personal-ity at school? Is she a leader? Is she cooperative, friendly and happy? If you can give specific examples of how my child is doing, it would help me know what she is like so I can relate For one of my kids, I could be the parent or the teacher but not both." To successfully do home schooling, parents have to be very dedicated to teaching their children, but there are benefits that are drawing more and more parents to teach their children from home. Nationally, there are approximately 1,230,000 children being taught at home. In the Uintah School District it averages from about 120 to almost 200. Proponents say home schooling school-ing allows students to work at their own pace and free from labels. "You decide what you want your child to do and become," say parents who home school. Dana Haslem, who has home Jones Waldo's Plaintiff Persons! Injury and Medical Malpractice Group has many years of combined legal experience representing those injured by the negligence of individuals, corporations and the medical profession. If you or a family member have been injured, or if a family member has been killed by trie negligence of someone else, please contact an attorney from the group for a free consultation concerning your case. TOLL FREE: 888.445.0880 www.utahrnedicalinjury.coni www.joneswaldo.comlpLnwdmal to her more. I am trying to be the best parent I can be. I need encouragement encour-agement too. Tell me what my child is doing that is positive; don't just call me when she's getting into trouble or is behind. Let me know how I can interact with my child at home and help him succeed in school. I want my children to be enthusiastic about learning, but I am not sure how to help them. Can you tell me how to work with them? Ask me for help if you want it. I would love to be involved in the classroom and help you and the kids. I don't want my child to be bullied, please don't let people make fun of her. Please don't talk negatively about my child to other parents par-ents or teachers, especially if there's any chance other children chil-dren might overhear. Let me know if my child is struggling academically before it is too late. Ten things teachers might not say but want parents to know: I really do care about your child, but I have to pay attention atten-tion to all of the children in the classroom and I can't focus all my attention on a single child. Don't put too much pressure pres-sure on your child to be perfect. Let her skills develop naturally. Children will resist learning if schooled her children for five years, said that what she likes about home schooling is "learning "learn-ing together and being able to spend time on things the kids are really interested in learning." learn-ing." Children have the opportunity oppor-tunity to do in-depth studies on topics that interest them. Home schooled children may also benefit ben-efit from learning and working at their own pace. Some parents claim home schooling has benefits as far as socialization goes. Most opponents oppo-nents of home schooling point out that students who receive their education at home don't have the opportunity to interact or socialize with their peers, but many home school families feel that the socialization in public school is more negative Jones Waldo has created a specialized medical malpractice team to assist individuals and families in pursuing their legal rights to fair compensation and to help mem move forward with their lives following a medical injury. This expert team includes the attorneys, nurse practitioners, medical record experts, and independent expert consultants who work together to obtain fair compensation for injured patients. ATTORNEYS: Bret M. Hanna Mark J. Williams Ross I. Romero key to there is too much pressure. Most children watch too much TV. Encourage imaginative imagina-tive play, reading, and physical activities over television watching. watch-ing. I need your encouragement and support as much as you need mine. Please let me know when I am doing something right. Help me by telling your child that you support my decisions. deci-sions. If you have a concern, come talk to me in private, just not in front of your student. We want and need you to come to parent-teacher conferences confer-ences whether your child is succeeding or struggling. Be involved in your child's learning process. Please read any policies or letters I send home and help your child understand expectations. You are your child's first teacher. If you put an emphasis on education, your child will feel it is important too. Keep up with enriching and learning activities during dur-ing the summer or breaks, it really helps children when they return to school. Continue to read to your child even if she can read herself. her-self. Teach your child to respect others by exposing him to people peo-ple who are different and helping help-ing him to contribute to the community than positive. Clinch said that with home schooling, children interact with other home school students stu-dents and siblings of various ages. "Socially, it is a problem when you put 30 kids of the same age in a classroom." The diversity of interactions that home schooled children have are what make home schooling beneficial for those who do it. Home schooled children also make social contact in clubs, recreational activities and religious reli-gious affiliations. Home schooling parents also point out that they are able to include more moral education and not submit their child to the inappropriate values that are sometimes found in public schools. "There are things in public school I don't want him to learn about," said Clinch. It can be argued that children can't be protected from life and the things of the world, but for home school families, the benefits ben-efits of the education received at home outweigh the potential "sheltering" that comes with being educated at home. For parents who want a little bit of both, a formal school setting set-ting and home schooling, the Benjamin Franklin Academy, offers a mixed education. The Academy has been operating for 12 years. Cresta Slaugh, the school administrator said, "The school assists parents in home schooling. We provide curriculum cur-riculum for parents and have teachers and classrooms." At the Academy, students attend classes for three days a week and the parents take over the school work on the other days. The philosophy of the Academy, said Slaugh is that "students have to own their education. Parents and teachers can't do it. It all comes back to the student stu-dent and how much they want to learn." |