School attendance helps cement 21st Century skills

NEW SKILLS FOR TODAY'S KIDS

Technology has become child’s play — as parents familiar with current toy offerings well know.

Youngsters play with “baby” cell phones, while older children use hand-held Game Boys to play games, message friends and keep track of school assignments. These toys, much like the electronic tools mom and dad use for work, are pretty much everywhere.

This media saturation invades far more than play time. Elementary school learning has taken on a 21st Century twist as teachers incorporate technology into every-day classroom activities. Lessons on such basics as reading, writing, mathematics, history, science and the arts — which today’s employers say are more important to job success than ever — are opportunities to become skilled with techy tools such as computers used to write, research on-line, and create artwork, interactive reports and presentations.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE MATTERS MOST

“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.”

From Learning for the 21st Century, a report by the Partnership for 21st 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 they don’t get to school, they are already behind the eight ball,” said one local principal. And unless children are at school, he says, 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 then 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 5-12 need between 9 1/2 to 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 by 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 before the bell.
   

• 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, such as their bedroom doors or the refrigerator. 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 school learning.
   

• 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 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 them.

For permission to reprint this article, please contact the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service by e-mailing us at dbushsuf@gw.neric.org.

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