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The New Year is underway and with it comes a flurry of resolutions. For most people, these tend to center around health (diet and exercise). But for me, it is a time to think about what I can do to further my children’s education. I like to think about what has and hasn’t worked for my kids during the past semester…and what areas need changing.
If you have made a resolution to be more involved in your child’s education this year, here are some easy ways to work toward that goal.
- Invest in Audio Books—Books on “tape” are not meant to replace reading, but rather to supplement it. For younger children, this is a great way to teach them about rhythm, flow, and the beauty of literature. Audio books help older kids with reading comprehension and are a perfect way to introduce the classics. There are many online resources for audio books. Books Should Be Free has an incredible collection of classics available in various formats. Greathall Productions has a diverse collection of reasonably priced CD sets by storyteller Jim Weiss. Barefoot Books also carries some excellent books with CDs, and many are multicultural. Story Nory publishes a free audio story once a week, all of which are read by professional actors.
- Establish a Family Game Night—But don’t just play any games. Look for card and board games that reinforce concepts your kids are learning at school. Take a look at these math, science, and reading games that are fun for the whole family to play. In addition to having a good time, you’ll be spending quality time with your kids. Ask them how they like school, what subjects they like best, and which one they struggle with the most. The games may also provide you with a clue as to what concepts they need to work on—or you may be surprised at just how much they already know!
- Eat Out—If you have it within your budget to eat out once a month, take your kids on a culinary journey around the world. For example, on the third Saturday of each month, pick a different ethnic restaurant to try out. Run to the library in the weeks beforehand and have your kids check out books about that country or region. Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Thai, Greek, Cajun—there are so many possibilities! Ask your kids to create some trivia cards to read at dinner, or learn how to say a few words (hello, thank you, etc.) to practice on the server. Or if you prefer, instead of going out to eat, investigate and choose a recipe to make at home with your kids. Both The Kids’ Multicultural Cookbook and Global Gourmét: A Multicultural Cookbook contain easy-to-follow recipes. Handstand Kids also publishes some fun multicultural cookbooks for kids.
- Go to the Museum—If you don’t already take family field trips, museums are a great place to start. Once you start looking, you may be delighted to learn just how many are within driving distance. Many museums offer free admission. Look them up on the Internet beforehand and see what exhibits they are showing so you can get prepared with a trip to the library or a little Wikipedia research. Some museum websites even offer teacher resources (which parents can easily use, too!) and may include printable materials, interactives, and other educational resources. Take a camera along to document the experience, then sit down with your child later and create a record book of your trips.
- Download Lesson Plans—A good curriculum isn’t just for teachers. In fact, many parents can use small unit studies and lesson plans to help supplement their child’s schoolwork in a more engaging way. Regardless of what others say, not all children learn the same way. And if your child is having trouble in a particular area, it’s possible that all they need is a little one-on-one time with someone who can explain it better. Additionally, if your child is really interested in a particular subject—like astronomy or gardening—but doesn’t have the opportunity to learn about it at school, you can help encourage her or him to continue exploring it more in depth with books and lesson plans. Two of my favorite online curriculum stores are CurrClick and Teachers Notebook. Both sell lesson plans, unit studies and other activities. But be sure to check their section of “Free Stuff” first. CurrClick also offers live classes for students and parents, as well as free online clubs like Lego®, chess, and many others.
