July 30, 2014
It has often been said to many a student - "Get your education! Your future depends on it!" For many children and student the key mystery word is "future." Some cannot even plan for tomorrow!
Years ago I was privileged to participate in a National Youth At Risk Task Force which brought together educators from throughout the country. It was the most enlightening experience of my professional career because I was in the presence of "experts" passionate about youth and the future of our nation under their (the youth's) care. So many issues were brought to the table! I think our first three-day meeting kept us engaged sixteen hours per day. We departed with more questions and less answers but one thing was clear: many,many children and students do not see themselves positively in the future. They go along day-by-day simply tackling each hour as it comes without a plan!
A sad moment for me when I go out and talk with students is their response of "I don't know" when asked: "So what are your plans for the future?" They have no idea that they are in "training" at the present time for the type of adults and participants in the workforce that they will become! I always mention to them that the majority of the adults around them have jobs and that their (the student's) job is to go to school, learn all that they can, develop career goals, work towards the goals and achieve them so that they may take their place in the world of work as a professional or technical person. Above and beyond, their on-going goals are to become productive, contributing members of society! Whish! That goes over their heads sometimes; and sometimes they say "Huh?" The future is NOW. "What are you doing to prepare?" I ask. Some respond by saying that they have not thought about it. Others - very few - others do have a plan. "I want to be a pediatrician specializing in cardiology."
"Wow!" I say. "Awesome. Good for you. I hope that if my granddaughter is ever in need of a pediatrician with a cardiology specialty you will be around to help her!" They blush.
Parents, the future is now. Talk with your children about their future goals. Where will they be in 5, 10, 15, 20 years? We need teachers, doctors, nurses, mechanics, computer techs, programmers, architects, real estate agents, scientists, dietitians, etc., etc. etc. We have no idea about the many job titles that are still to be developed! Explore with your child/student. Dream with them about what their future can be. PLEASE help THEM help others make the world a better place.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Friday, January 3, 2014
Setting Reading Goals for 2014!
It was the Honorable Ruben Hinojosa, Member of Congress who told me the story of his visits to the ministries of education of various countries where he asked the question: "What is the secret of your high graduation rate for high school students?" Some of the countries he visited had a 90% or above graduation rate! The answer to his question was simple - "Early reading plus early writing equals school success." Congressman Hinojosa took this to heart and came back to his congressional district and organized the South Texas Literacy Coalition!
The next question you readers may have might be - "How 'early'? Well, the literacy research confirms that a child's literacy skills begin the first time a story is read out loud to them. Listening to the voice of the reader - hopefully one of their parents, the reader's intonation, pronunciation, and the drama used to tell the story - all of these factors contribute positively to a child's development of literacy skills including listening, understanding the stories by the illustrations, following sequencing, and recognizing that there is a beginning and an end to a story. During this very valuable family time together, the child's brain is making cognitive connections listening to words and being able to recognize them again, understanding the plot of the story, and falling in love with the characters and even the illustrations and colors in a book.
The key is to have a variety of reading materials available to young children at home - where the home is the first classroom and the parents - the first teachers. Children need to be exposed to popular stories by popular authors - Dr. Seuss, Berenstain Bears, Mother Goose nursery rhymes, and poetry. They should also have music, puzzles, art supplies (scissors, construction paper, drawing paper, crayons and markers, glue, etc.) available to complete a story time by drawing something that they remember about the story. Younger children can be involved in singing or dancing or in puzzle activities that might relate to the story. A story like Red Lemon by Bob Staake is a story about diversity but can also introduce a puzzle with fruits or even a recipe to make lemonade or perhaps lemon pie together.
If parents can arrange their schedules for one of their most important jobs - mentoring their children to help develop literacy skills early on - then indeed, their children can engage in "early reading plus early writing" to achieve success in school and life!
Take your child to the public library this next weekend and visit the Children's section. It will open up a whole new world of communication, fun and quality time for the entire family!
It was the Honorable Ruben Hinojosa, Member of Congress who told me the story of his visits to the ministries of education of various countries where he asked the question: "What is the secret of your high graduation rate for high school students?" Some of the countries he visited had a 90% or above graduation rate! The answer to his question was simple - "Early reading plus early writing equals school success." Congressman Hinojosa took this to heart and came back to his congressional district and organized the South Texas Literacy Coalition!
The next question you readers may have might be - "How 'early'? Well, the literacy research confirms that a child's literacy skills begin the first time a story is read out loud to them. Listening to the voice of the reader - hopefully one of their parents, the reader's intonation, pronunciation, and the drama used to tell the story - all of these factors contribute positively to a child's development of literacy skills including listening, understanding the stories by the illustrations, following sequencing, and recognizing that there is a beginning and an end to a story. During this very valuable family time together, the child's brain is making cognitive connections listening to words and being able to recognize them again, understanding the plot of the story, and falling in love with the characters and even the illustrations and colors in a book.
The key is to have a variety of reading materials available to young children at home - where the home is the first classroom and the parents - the first teachers. Children need to be exposed to popular stories by popular authors - Dr. Seuss, Berenstain Bears, Mother Goose nursery rhymes, and poetry. They should also have music, puzzles, art supplies (scissors, construction paper, drawing paper, crayons and markers, glue, etc.) available to complete a story time by drawing something that they remember about the story. Younger children can be involved in singing or dancing or in puzzle activities that might relate to the story. A story like Red Lemon by Bob Staake is a story about diversity but can also introduce a puzzle with fruits or even a recipe to make lemonade or perhaps lemon pie together.
If parents can arrange their schedules for one of their most important jobs - mentoring their children to help develop literacy skills early on - then indeed, their children can engage in "early reading plus early writing" to achieve success in school and life!
Take your child to the public library this next weekend and visit the Children's section. It will open up a whole new world of communication, fun and quality time for the entire family!
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