New skills for today’s kids

 “Education that prepares students for this complex digital society will be more meaningful to students and, ultimately, more effective in preparing them for the future… every day a student misses is a learning opportunity that can’t be recaptured.”

“The world and economy are moving so fast that if children aren’t in school and learning all they need to know now, they’ll be at a disadvantage later on.”

—Learning for the 21^st Century, a report by the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills, a collaboration of today’s large and small businesses and educational institutions.

Today’s elementary school is a busy, and complex, place. Students are asked to work hard and to show, both with paper and pencil and with high-tech tools, that they are learning the lessons they’ll need to move ahead in school and out into the world of work. And although today’s kids seem born with the ability to quickly master technology, they still need direct instruction and lots and lots of practice so they can proficiently read, write and compute in a wide-range of academic areas. That’s why all students need to be at school, every day, on time and ready to learn.

School attendance sets kids on path to school success
 

Elementary school teachers and administrators consistently cite two things that are key to school success: timeliness and regular school attendance. 

“The world and our economy, and what we need kids to know to get along, are changing so fast that if kids don’t get to school, they are already behind the eight ball,” commented one local principal. And unless children are at school, he said, there’s little teachers can do to help them learn.
 

Parents can set a positive tone at home and make family choices that will help children arrive at school each day, ready to take on learning that will put them in good stead for tomorrow. Here are some ideas:

• Become a cheerleader for learning. When children are young, your enthusiasm can be contagious. Reading up on what they’ll be learning this school year, attending open house and learning how best to stay in touch with their teachers will give you information you can talk up (e.g., “Your teacher says you’re growing monarch butterflies in class. How are they doing? Did you see that one fly by our window? Why don’t we get some books from the library so we can learn more about them?”) When you’re interested in what’s going on at school, your children are more likely to approach school with interest, too. 
   

• Set consistent waking and bedtimes. After the freedom of summer vacation, it can be a challenge to get children into bed at night and then wake them in time to get to school the next morning. Children ages 5 to 12 need between 9 1/2 and 11 hours of sleep each night to be healthy and to learn well. Create routines around bedtimes (e.g., washing up, reading together, lights out the same time each night) that you’ll stick with all year. Waking at the same time each day—including the weekends—leaves plenty of time for children to eat a nutritious breakfast, gather necessary supplies and get out the door and to school on time.
   

• Help them get organized. Making a space in your home for kids to store backpacks, coats, sneakers and other necessary supplies can help them get to school on time and ready to learn. Create a “to-do” list with “night before” tasks (e.g., put homework, permission slips and letters to teacher in backpacks, pack lunch money, etc.)  and “school morning” responsibilities (such as make bed, wash and brush, dress in gym- and weather-ready clothes, etc.). Post this list in a place where children can easily refer to it—on their bedroom doors or the refrigerator, for example. Getting organized can help create a calmer home atmosphere that helps kids move out the door in a school-ready mood.
   

• Make medical and other appointments during non-school hours if possible. Schedule family vacations during school holidays so that kids aren’t missing important learning opportunities.
   

• Keep track of your children’s absences. For young children, new school experiences can sometimes seem scary or overwhelming. Not wanting to go to school or excessive absences might be a sign of this or of a larger physical or emotional problem, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or bullying. If absences become common, talking with your child’s doctor, teachers, school social worker and/or nurse can help provide a clearer picture of what might be at the root of the problem. [top]