10 Things You Can Do With Your School to Promote Learning
From the PTA Website:
10 Things You Can Do With Your School to Promote Learning
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Develops Key Skills
The concept of social and emotional learning (SEL) has been
linked to higher
student achievement, according to the Collaborative for Academic,
Social and
Emotional Learning (CASEL). The March 17 PTA Parent
http://www.pta.org/2820.htm examined what parents can do at home
to foster
SEL. This edition looks at 10 things parents can do with the
school to aid in
their children�s social and emotional learning.
Focus on the value of learning. Take some time each day to ask
what your
child learned in school. Don�t focus just on math, English, and
social
studies. Ask how your child gets along with other students and
how he or she
feels about school.
Focus on creating a positive learning environment at home. Create
regular
homework times and provide a quiet, well-lit place for homework.
Limit the
amount of TV. Decide with your child about rules for dealing with
interruptions such as phone calls or visitors.
Set up a school bulletin board at home. Display the school
calendar and other
fliers from the school. Decide as a family which school events
you will
attend. Help your child get involved in interesting and
worthwhile school
activities.
Listen when your child talks about school. Pay attention to what
your child
says about school. If your child is happy with his or her
classroom and
school activities, write or call the teacher to say thank you. If
your child
seems frustrated, bored, or lonely at school, call a teacher or
counselor to
see what can be done.
Help your child with homework. Don�t ever do homework for your
child. But do
help. Assist your child in setting priorities for schoolwork. For
example,
encourage your child to tackle difficult assignments first while
he or she
has the most energy.
Take advantage of school meetings. Finding the time to attend
school meetings
can be a challenge. Many schools offer alternative times and
places for
parents to ask questions and discuss solutions to common
problems. Often
these meetings provide child care.
Volunteer at school. By volunteering in the classroom, you can
better
understand how to support your child�s learning at home. Try
being a room
parent, a chaperone at school functions, or a tutor. Even parents
who work
full-time can create opportunities if they do not exist.
Attend school activities. Whenever possible, attend your child�s
plays,
sports events, or science fairs. Your presence shows that your
child�s
interests and work are important to you.
Join or create a �Social and Emotional Learning Book Club.� In
some
communities parents have created book clubs to learn how they can
encourage
their children�s social and emotional development. This could be
part of your
PTA. It could also be something you do with friends.
Encourage good communication with the school. Good communication
is basic to
supporting your child�s education. Ask your child�s teacher to
provide
suggested home activities to support skills the children are
learning at
school. Ask for homework assignments that directly involve
parents.
For more information, go to casel.org.
