Your Kids Have A Message For You
Remember our parents telling us stories of what school was like when they were kids? I don’t know about you, but I would howl at the descriptions. And it felt a little like they were from a different planet. But really, it was just a different time. And I was a different kind of learner.
That’s the crisis our education system faces today. Our children have grown up as digital natives. They don’t know a world that didn’t include sophisticated gaming software, iPods, or computers in most homes. But their teachers are not digital natives.
In fact, many teachers are afraid of the digital era. And without meaning to, creating a digital divide in the classrooms. I know lots of teachers are wrapping their arms around technology and completely engaging their students. But I also know many are not. Or their districts put up so many barriers — they can’t.
Well guess what. Our kids have a message for us.
The question is — what are we going to do about it?
Amazing isn’t it? This is why I think it is so vital for parents to be involved in their kids life. I know that we supplement education in our house. We follow what the kids are learning about and do additional work on it at home. Parents who say they don’t “have time”… What do they do with their kids, sit and watch TV? Play video games? With just a little preparation you can help your child achieve, not just pass.
Jody,
And it can start with something as simple as reading to your child, modeling reading and as they get older, encouraging reading.
Too many parents look to the schools as though it’s their problem. If we can’t partner together — the big loser in the equation are our kids.
Drew