Elementary school is harder than ever. Kindergarten is going beyond the ABCs, crayons and building blocks to teach kids how to write “informative reports” and develop “algebraic thinking.” The goal, under the new Common Core standards, is to start building skills needed to succeed in college or career early, so kids graduate without needing remedial classes. Entering the fifth grade, parents should start looking into middle-school options, a nail-biting experience because there’s a lack of great ones, and those outside your home district are highly competitive.
START A DIALOGUE WITH THE TEACHER
“Parents, make it known from day one that you’re really interested in being part of your kids’ education. Teachers usually give parents a way to communicate, such as their e-mail addresses and invite you to tell about your children. Take that opportunity immediately and with enthusiasm. Write out a little something about your kid. For example: ‘Tommy is a good kid, but a little shy, especially around grown-ups. His biggest academic challenge last year was that he was too quiet in class, so anything you can do to give him confidence to participate and be more of leader would be wonderful.’ Always keep it positive, even if you’re worried or having problems.”
— Kim Nauer, director of Schools Watch at the Center for NYC Affairs, mother of two
DON’T MISS THE MEETINGS
“Go to PTA or parent association meetings. They can be a tremendous source of intelligence on your school. The principal or other top staffer usually gives a presentation on topics like the new Common Core curriculum and tests, or a new anti-bullying law.”
— Kim Nauer
KNOW WHAT YOUR KID HAS TO LEARN
“Get up to speed on the Common Core curriculum and exams. What they’re teaching in schools and how they’re testing is changing a lot. You should be reading the news and getting as much information as you can every step of the way, so you can explain to your kids what’s going on. Keep the pressure on so they do their best, but let them enjoy learning and not get into a frenzy about the massive failure rates. The parents are the only people who can hug these kids through this. Get active so parents have a voice in all this.”
— Kim Nauer
LEARN OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL
“Get kids comfortable with the idea that math is part of everyday life. Point out numbers. If you’re grocery shopping, tell them how much ground chicken is per pound. Discuss how many pounds you need, and what’s the total cost — not even expecting them to do the multiplication, but just showing them that it’s there. Compare things, point out fractions, cook with your kids. Show them, ‘Oh, look, 1/3rd is bigger than 1/4rd.’ Math is all around us all the time, and if kids get that at a young age, it won’t be so scary and so foreign.”
— Actress Danica McKeller, author of “Girls Get Curves, Geometry Takes Shape” and “Kiss my Math”
MAKE HOMEWORK A PRIORITY
“Create a clear, quiet, well-lit ‘homework’ space at home with supplies your child needs to do homework each night. Create a homework folder so work can easily be found and turned in the next day.
“Block off a daily pleasure reading time at home. You can read to your younger child, or older kids can read to themselves. Reading both non-fiction and fiction is key to school and testing success. Focus on whatever interests your child and is age-appropriate. Some examples; “The Biography of Rosa Parks” by Wil Mara; “Pluto: The Dwarf Planet” by Christine Taylor Butler; “Is it a Dinosaur?” by Susan H. Gray.”
— Karen Quinn, co-founder of TestingMom.com
DOES YOUR KID KNOW HOW TO REACH YOU?
Have your child memorize your phone number. With today’s smart phones, many don’t remember the numbers.
If your child rides a bus to school, make sure your bus driver knows both you and your child. If possible, get the driver’s phone number so you can text him/her if you won’t be at the bus stop on a certain day”
— Michael McCurdy, gifted and talented guru, NYC public-school dad
GUARD AGAINST ONLINE PRANKS AND CYBERBULLIES
“Kids now have cellphones in the third grade. Set rules. Start with setting a password, so when it’s lost — and it will be — it keeps others from accessing his or her contacts and information. Tell them to never leave a cell phone unattended. Friends can use it to harass other people in your kid’s name, called posers, or cyberbullying by proxy — that happens frequently. The most common type of cyberbullying in the third and fourth grades is extortion — kids will threaten to divulge secrets if their target doesn’t do whatever they want.”
— Parry Aftab, Internet privacy and security lawyer, executive director of wiredsafety.org
CHECK OUT THE SCHOOL MENUS
“Most schools serve breakfast as well as lunch. Look at what’s being served in the cafeteria and decide whether that’s best for your child, or maybe you should pack something else.”
— Keith Ayoob, pediatric nutritionist and professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
PLAN EARLY TO APPLY TO MIDDLE SCHOOLS
“Fall kicks off the middle-school admissions process for both public and private schools. Incoming Fifth graders and their parents should start thinking about their options. Students can apply to a a zoned school or aim for another in the district, borough or a citywide program.”
The DOE has posted important dates for those seeking public-school seats in the 2014-2015 school year: http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/Middle/Calendar/default.htm
— Robin Aronow, consultant and founder of School Search NYC