backtoschool

It’s back to school for kids of all ages! Back to school as I remember meant picking out one new outfit, the latest cartoon superhero lunch box, and flashiest pencil sets. Even as a veteran student today myself, my personal love for learning cannot completely suppress that terrifying -“oh my gosh…summer is over!”- panic elicited by the approaching first day back at school.

For parents and little ones, who haven’t yet developed a back to school routine of their own, the process can be confusing and even daunting. These first getting to school adventures should be exciting and encouraging for families and their youngest learners.

Universal access to early learning information and community resources is essential for a thriving early learning community. According to the Department of Early Learning’s Parent Needs Assessment, most parents want more information on early learning. The most requested was information about activities, events, and family community services.

This September 20, 2008 will begin a tradition of the Early Learning Resource Fair. The fair is the Foundation’s way to kick-off fall’s back to school. To help support children, parents, families and the community in getting school ready! The event will include early learning resources and activities at over 60 locations in Washington State stretching from Spokane to Walla Walla, and Wenatchee to the Puget Sound.

The downtown Seattle activities for the Early Learning Resource Fair will be held at Westlake Center 11am-3pm and the downtown Seattle Public children’s library. We hope to reach all kinds of families in the hustle and bustle of the fall back to school season. Most importantly the Foundation strives to reach those families and communities who have not yet been exposed to the richness of information and resources made available by the movement of early learning in Washington. Equal access and equality of experiences in early learning can start with the sharing of resources and knowledge.

Just like kids fill up their backpacks full of the supplies they need to help them explore, develop, wonder and grow…why not stock up entire families and communities with the information and resources they need as well? After all, getting school ready is a family and a community event. Everyone is involved!

To learn more about the Early Learning Resource Fair visit:
http://www.earlylearning.org/events/early-learning-resource-fair/

It’s September and many parents have taken their five year-old to Kindergarten. If you listen quietly, you might hear the earth move just a little bit.

Taking your child to school for the first time can sometimes be more traumatic for the parents than the child. Thinking back to when my oldest son started school brought back a flood of memories.

I was 26 years old when he started Kindergarten and believed that kids should be able to adjust to whatever teacher they got and that this adjustment was part of their socialization. I had been told that his Kindergarten teacher was “an old school disciplinarian” and I didn’t know that I could have taken him out of that class and put him in another. My son struggled all year with this teacher. I was constantly being told that he didn’t pay attention, acted out and wasn’t learning. At the risk of understatement, it was NOT a good year.

In first grade my son had a wonderful teacher who, two weeks into the school year, asked if she could have him tested for Learning Disabilities. I allowed it, and I am glad I did because it turned out that he did indeed have Learning Disabilities. Immediately a support plan was developed to help my son succeed in school.

The experience taught me several things:

• Always advocate for your child

• Never be afraid to be the “problem parent” to the school

• Demand to have your child moved if you feel s/he is not being treated properly

• Agree to testing even if you think there is nothing wrong with your child. (Let me explain why I think this is important.)
When my younger son was in 2nd grade, his teacher wanted him tested for Learning Disabilities. I knew he didn’t have them and also knew that if he wasn’t tested, the teacher would treat him differently. Sure enough, he was not Learning Disabled. His grades went up and his teacher worked with him in a completely different way.

The resources listed below can be a big help for parents and families whose children are just starting school:

• The Children’s Home Society of Washington has resources for parents to use to become involved in their child’s school.

• The University of Washington has a web site that lists resources, Washington State Resources for Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities.

I would love to hear your "back to school" stories as parents or as children.
Thank you for reading.

Jeanne