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About | Why are
students lost with maps?
By Leanna Landsmann
Q: I'm working with middle-schoolers on a church project and am shocked
at how little they know even though they get "good grades." They need
a calculator for simple math. They have weak vocabulary. They can't read a map.
Yet they go to good schools! My daughter is in pre-k, and I don't have the time
or talent to home-school her. Shouldn't they know how to read a map by now? How
can I make sure she stays on track and learns what's required at each grade level?
A: If you look at your state curriculum, I bet you'll find that instruction
in map skills started in the primary grades. So why can't those middle-schoolers
with "good grades" read a map? Most likely, they haven't had enough
practice to "cement" their learning. The bridge between introducing
a concept and a student's mastery is built with practice. Skills are a "use
'em or lose 'em" proposition. For most kids, there isn't enough time
in school to practice. "Providing practice opportunities is one of the most
important things a parent can do, especially in the elementary years," says
Dr. Delores Seamster, a Texas educator who coaches parents on how to increase
their effectiveness. "Either working with your child's teacher, or following
the curriculum, identify the skill being taught, and then find fun things to do
at home to reinforce that skill," says Seamster. "For example, if your
daughter's class is learning opposites, make a big deal of the words at home --
IN and OUT, FRONT and BACK. Use them often. Make and place labels, such as LOW
(near the baseboard) and HIGH (near the ceiling.) Write a song about opposites." To
learn which skills are taught at which grade levels, go online to find your daughter's
curriculum. For some skills, the practice is obvious. For others, get ideas from
materials at teacher-supply stores or Web sites such as familyeducation.com
or readingrockets.org.
The BrainQuest Workbook series (Workman, 2008) is particularly good.
These 320-page, large-size books offer grade-level-specific activities for pre-k
through grade 4 and provide practice in several subjects. The books are colorful,
kid-friendly, whimsically illustrated and include stickers, awards, pull-out posters
and cards. At $12.95 each, they offer exceptional value. To sample them, go to
brainquest.com. "Cracking
the First" (Second, Third and Fourth) Grade is a series from Princeton Review
that focuses on math and reading. $14.95 each (Random House, 2008).
Avoid
abstract "drill and kill" worksheets; opt for hands-on, everyday activities.
"Make this a fun, family affair. Don't approach it as homework," says
Seamster. Another way to give your daughter an edge is to look at the curriculum
and ask, "What's missing that my child should know?" For example, many
historical and cultural events that give us insight into our past don't make it
into state standards. Great poems and other writings never find their way into
textbooks. Yet they give children background knowledge, expand their vocabulary
and develop their intellectual curiosity. More and more parents who wish
to enrich the school's curriculum are turning to materials from the Core Knowledge
Foundation. Its founder, University of Virginia Professor E.D. Hirsch, believes
that to function successfully in a democratic society, students need a solid,
shared foundation in language arts, literature, math, science, history, geography,
music and visual arts. The Foundation spells out the "core" content
in two formats. One is a paperback series for parents, "What Your X-Grader
Needs to Know," available for preschool through grade 6. At $15 each, they're
an excellent deal. The second are Core Knowledge Teacher Handbooks, available
for kindergarten through fifth grade, $69.95 each. While pricier, they contain
a wealth of wonderful material with explicit teaching techniques and resources.
Go to coreknowledge.org. To
keep kids on track, add plenty of hands-on practice and enrichment to your children's
elementary grades. "If you do it right, it can be fun and rewarding,"
says Seamster. You'll also avoid those skills-gap surprises that don't show up
until the middle-school years. Do you have a question about your child's
education? E-mail it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com.
Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher.
She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe
best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City. Copyright
2009, United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
A-PLUS ADVICE FOR PARENTS 1-19-09 Submission
inquiries? Contact Stacey Pusey at 856-241-7772. | |
