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Curriculum
Issues
Creating a Appetite for Education
Keeping up with Your Child's Class Work
Why Teacher's Should be Required to Provide
Children and Parents With a Syllabus
Your child's grades are
falling. You've asked your child's teacher, "What seems to be the
problem?" You're told that perhaps study habits could be improved
upon, and your diligence in making sure homework assignments are completed
would make a big difference. You assure the teacher that you're on
the case and come home committed to making sure your child fulfills his or
her part of the academic challenge. NOW WHAT?
Children struggling in school
display their frustrations in many ways. Some children feel that
there's no point in studying. Their self esteem plummets and they
begin to fall into a self fulfilling prophecy. Because they decide
they can't do the work, ... they don't. If your child isn't writing
down assignments, not bothering to study, and generally seems totally
disinterested,... this may be part of the problem. Parents can't
help unless they know what the requirements are. Test dates, homework
assignments, and knowing the sequential order of what materials are to be covered in
class are the tools parents need in order to help their children meet
academic expectations. Ask your child's teacher for a syllabus
detailing what's expected from your child each grading period. Your
request probably won't receive a warm reception, but parents must force
themselves to be insistent in matters that are pivotal for their
children's success. If you're refused, follow up with the school's
administrative offices for assistance. If all reasonable attempts
are rejected, then ask for a written explanation why, and details of the
alternative plan they have in mind to assist your child in meeting their
academic requirements.
A syllabus should be mandated
by all public school systems, ... nationwide, not only to
provide a tool for parents to help their children, but as a daily tool
for students to follow. Teachers prepare lesson plans for the
year. If organization and preparation are critical for the
teacher, than by what standard can it possibly be determined that the
children don't deserve, and need that same kind of preparation and
organizational opportunity.
Education Week on the Web
Geography Makes Comeback
In U.S. Classrooms
(excerpt)
After falling off the curriculum map a generation ago, geography has made
a quiet comeback in U.S. classrooms. Still, its supporters are looking to
hold on to the ground they've gained, especially at a time when political
and economic stakes have been raised to learn about other places and
cultures.
USA Today.com
NYTimes.com, NPR team up for civics education Web site
NEW YORK (AP) —
(excerpt) NYTimes.com and National Public Radio on
Wednesday announced the launch of Justice Learning, a civics education Web
site for high school students and teachers based on NPR's radio program,
Justice Talking.
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