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What can Parents do? Suggestions from a tutor

Learn about the works of Dennis Littky.

Specific chapters from his book "The Big Picture: Education is Everybody's Business."

Chap 6 Real Work in the Real World, pages 111-133; Tests vs. Exhibitions pp. 162-168

Chapter 8 ½ Standardized Tests pp. 171-179

The Benefits of Small Schools pp. 66-70 Visit www.BigPicture.org and www.MetCenter.org

Go to the MetCenter.org and print the questions under "Education":

www.themetschool.org/edu_applied

Ask your child to answer at least one of the questions each evening.

Ask teachers to give a narrative in addition to the letter grade.

Presentations: Ask teachers to allow students to give presentations (exhibitions) in addition to or instead of written tests. (This is particularly helpful for students who are strong in areas other than Linguistic Intelligence).

Learn more about small schools. Read quotes about small schools at the blog: findasmallschool.blogspot.com or click on the link at www.FindASmallSchool.com

Learn more about Multiple Intelligences. Newcityschool.org is a good place to start.

What if I can't find a small school?

What if my child likes the big school where he's at? What if…? These actions will enhance your child's schooling.

Bring mentors into school and volunteer as a mentor. Return to the same classroom at least once a month and provide continuity.

Find mentors on video (link on www.FindASmallSchool.com). Get your child into an internship.

Build a portfolio (videos, essays, photos of projects, exhibitions and presentations).

Bring your child to a language school and listen to your child create a discussion with an international student.

Suggested procedure: Most private language schools end at 12:45 or 3:30 p.m. If you stand outside the school, you can introduce yourself to several students, say that you want to learn about their countries and invite them for coffee. Bring an atlas, paper and pen.

If you are interested, call me and I'll arrange for you and your child to meet an international visitor – Speak in synonyms. If the visitor doesn't understand a sentence, state it another way.

Put something useful on your child's computer (get the GET AHEAD CD with educational web pages, or go to www.TeachersToTeachers.com and visit the web links).

Turn off music in the car. National Public Radio or get podcasts of ScienceFriday.com, OnTheMedia.org, GeoQuiz (TheWorld.org) and other web pages.

Become a greeter. Students can get in the mind of the visitor. Learn some basic phrases in other languages. Carry a pen and paper to offer. Learn how to draw a map of the area and explain how to find Sawgrass Mall or how to get to a nearby mall.

Post SAT words in your kitchen, in the car and on a table. Use at least one cool word from FreeVocabulary.com.

Learn other languages. Yes, students will pick up something when you learn new words. Let them see you study another way of communicating.

There is no "minimum daily requirement" for using video games. Eye-Hand coordination can be developed in a wide variety of ways. Your child could be learning another skill or listening to audio books instead of playing Grand Theft Auto.

Assume that your child is being prepared for today's economy, not the economy of the future. Then make additions to your child's curriculum.

Don't let school get in the way of your education. –Mark Twain

Please send suggestions on how to extend the education of students... s2314@tmail.com

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