WE here highly resolve

 We here highly resolve…

 

 

It is the time for resolutions for the new year.  We all make them.   The length of time  being able to keep them varies greatly.  During distance learning many families have come to have enhanced appreciation for classroom teachers.   However there are still lots of resolutions we should all make to make the rest of this year and the next year more profitable for everyone.   Here are some to consider:

1.    Come to school. If you aren’t in school you won’t be learning any schoolwork.   It really doesn’t matter why a student is not in school- illness, vacation, poor technology, visiting relatives, they all add up to being absent.

2.    Listen carefully:  Parents, kids and teachers all need to listen carefully to what is being said.  Parents need to listen to their children with the filter that says, “my child is going to present the best version of events”.  Teachers need to listen to parents and students.  The vast majority of parents are just trying to get the best outcomes for their child.  Don’t get defensive.   Students, it really doesn’t matter how old you are, you still don’t know it all.

3.    Be Prepared: Children need to bring the appropriate tools to their school work whether it is a tablet, paper, pencil, calculator or desktop.  They also need a quiet place to work.  Teachers need to have everything ready for the lesson BEFORE the lesson not on the fly as the lesson is happening.  Parents need to help students to have the tools they need for school.

4.    Take school seriously:  There are many ways to send the message that school is one of the most important things a child does in preparation for his/her future.  We all need to act like we believe this to be true.  That means school takes priority over other activities.  Families talk about school being the child's job for right now.

5.    Work as a team:  School is not a competitive contest where some people win and some people lose.  If school is done well we all win.  Start with believing in the good intentions of the other person, whether that is a student, parent or teacher.  No one is in the education profession to get rich.  Educators do care about kids.

6.    Get appropriate rest and nutrition:  Everyone does better when he/she is rested and not hungry.  Kids need to get enough rest to be alert for school.  Families and teachers need rest too so they have more patience with kids and school staff (the rest of life as well).  And few people do well when they are hangry.

7.    Take life and school one step at a time:  We will get to where we need to be.  Every child can learn, just not at the same time nor at the same pace.  We all need to give kids the time they need to learn.

8.    Make learning a safe experience:  Everyone fails at learning something at some time.  Make sure there is a safety net so kids are not afraid to fail when they try. Learning is a risk taking behavior.  None of us will take the risk if we are going to be embarrassed for failing.

9.    Have a sense of humor:  See the funny side of school.  That works for life too.  Find the humor in it all.  Even in the "extra" things we see during distance learning.

10.Make these school days the best days of your child’s life:   That really can happen.  Everyone needs to try to make that so.

 

Happy New Year and good luck on those resolutions.