WHAT SCHOOLS SHOULD GIVE KIDS:
WHAT SCHOOLS SHOULD EXPECT FROM KIDS: • Adults who model what they expect from students
• Unprejudiced Treatment
• A safe welcoming environment that offers consistency and structure
• Challenging and interesting courses
• Competency in basic skills ? reading, writing, math, thinking (problem-solving) ? before third grade or age 10, plus exposure to all the arts
• Tutoring before failure becomes a habit
• Interested, prepared teachers who hold high expectations for all children.
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD EXPECT FROM SCHOOLS: • Come to school everyday and on time
• Behave respectively to adults and each other
• Obey school rules
• Respect school property
• Come to school prepared
• Do assigned homework on time and neatly
• Seek help before falling behind
• Become involved in some aspect of school life ? clubs, teams, and student government
• Understand the importance of education for success in the future ? even if you think a class is "boring," "stupid," or "dumb."
WHAT SCHOOLS SHOULD EXPECT FROM PARENTS: • To receive a roster of who’s who at school ? and ways communicating with them
• To be treated with respect
• To be treated as a partner in your child’s education
• To have "educationese" translated for you
• To be informed from day one, orally, and in writing, about the schools’ rules and philosophy. Also, the dates of meetings and events
• To be told, and perhaps trained in, what you should do at home to help the school help your child be successful in school and in life.
• Say at home that you support the school’s programs, rules, and mission.
• Discuss the importance of getting a good education for success.
• Talk every day , from pre-K on, about school ("What happened today? What was the best thing you did?") and really listen and respond to your child’s answers.
• Read to your child (from birth). Have books, newspapers and magazines around. Use libraries as resources.
• Provide a quiet place and time to read and study.
• Ask your child to explain some of the homework to you.