What can one parent do?

You might have heard what Bill Gates says about schools: make the school small so that the students are given attention. The Principal should know every student and their parents. Students need adults "who know them, look out for them and push them to succeed." But let's assume that you can't switch to a small school and you can't change the school to make it small. What can one parent do? After all, "I am only one person." The other way to look at it is..."Before there was nobody, and now there is one. I am here." 1. Build a portfolio of understanding with your child. A letter grade isn't enough... create a portfolio showing progress. 2. In addition to written tests, videotape exhibitions and spoken reports by your child. 3. Bring in mentors. 4. Ask teachers to make the work "Authentic..." Ask for REAL work, not make-work. Internships help. 5. Read www.FindASmallSchool.com and visit www.MetCenter.org. Look at the questions listed on the Met Center's academic page. Ask those questions to your child. Ask your child's teachers to ask those questions. HERE'S AN EXAMPLE 1. Empirical Reasoning "How do I prove it?" This goal is to think like a scientist: to use empirical evidence and a logical process to make decisions and to evaluate hypotheses. It does not reflect specific science content material, but instead can incorporate ideas from physics to sociology to art theory. Questions used to develop a student's project: . What idea do I want to test? (essential question) . What has other research shown? . What is my hypothesis? . How can I test it? . What information (data) do I need to collect? . How will I collect the information? . What will I use as a control in my research? . How good is my information? . What are the results of my research? . What error do I have? . What conclusions can I draw from my research? . How will I present my results? http://www.themetschool.org/edu_applied#empirical Finally, get a copy of Mr. Mac's "THE NEW THREE Rs", a ten minute documentary of small schools.