ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 14, 2006 – Educators recognize that the holidays can often be a hectic time, with many demands on families’ schedules — buying presents, attending holiday events, baking and much more. By looking for quick learning opportunities within your existing holiday plans, you can give your children the gift of your time and help them gain valuable skills that will benefit them in the classroom.
A report from the National Center for Family & Community Connections With Schools finds that parental involvement in children’s learning is positively related to achievement, school attendance and graduation rates, regardless of the family’s income or background. Further, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory’s “School Improvement Research Series” reports that the more intensively parents are involved in their children's learning, the greater the effects on achievement. In fact, there are strong indications that the most effective forms of parental involvement are those which engage parents in working directly with their children on learning activities in the home.
“Holidays provide unique opportunities for parents, grandparents and other extended family to get involved in a child’s education,” said Judy Schaubach, Education Minnesota president. “Kids gain valuable time with their families and experience the joy of learning without academic pressures. Students see that what they learn in school can help them in everyday life and teachers and students spend less time catching up when they return to class in January.”
With most schools releasing students for break next week, Education Minnesota, the statewide educators union, has a set of tips for parents and students to use during the holiday break. These tips are intended to be quick and easy for parents to incorporate into their holiday schedule, without significant cost or time investments.
1. Make reading and writing a part of your holiday traditions.
- Read as much as possible over the winter break. Even the most basic tasks can provide fun reading opportunities for you and your child.
- When it’s time for holiday baking, ask your child to read the directions aloud to you. While the food is cooking, read a book together.
- Help your child make his or her own holiday gifts for family and friends by following the directions in a how-to-book.
- Visit the library together and pick out some holiday favorites for family reading. Attend story time at the library or book stores.
- Volunteer to read to residents in a local retirement home or hospital. Your child can also write and design greeting cards for the residents.
- Have your children write thank-you notes for the gifts they receive.
- Write holiday poems or lyrics for new holiday songs.
2. Work basic math into your holiday to-do list.
- Teach children that math is fun and useful. Use the many items on your holiday to-do list to help your child see the real-world applications of math.
- Have your child help you measure ingredients when doing holiday baking.
- Share your budget for Christmas gifts or grocery shopping with your children and then have them plan a shopping list to fit within that budget. Go to the store together to buy the items on the list.
- Ask children to do mental math while shopping. Ask them to figure out discounted prices or decide which item is a better deal.
3. Keep kids active.
- Whether playing outside, taking a trip to the museum or even going to a shopping mall, kids can get exercise while applying reading, creative thinking, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Even indoor activities like nursery rhymes, dancing, and playing cards or games can keep students’ minds and bodies active on those cold winter days.
4. Remember to keep the learning fun.
- Holiday break provides time to relax without academic grades or testing. This freedom can be used to encourage your child to explore subjects of special interest to them, outside of the typical academic subjects. The holidays also provide a great time for students to learn about other cultures and heritages and how that affects holiday traditions.
- Students need the time to relax, play and act like children during the holiday break. Enjoyable experiences can help students return to school with positive attitudes and fresh approaches to academics when school resumes.
Some schools may assign a modest level of homework for children during the holiday break. It is important to help your children budget their time to get the homework done so it isn’t overwhelming or done in a last-minute rush, allowing them to return to class refreshed and ready to learn.
I did not write this column nor change it.
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http://www.educationminnesota.org/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=17443
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About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota represents 70,000 professionals working to put schools first. Education Minnesota members include teachers and educational support professionals in pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade public schools, faculty at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.
