Frequently Asked Questions

Question

Can you recommend any resources for babies and toddlers?

Answer

At such a tender age our children need our attention and not just information. It concerns me that so much emphasis is being placed on building children’s intellectually at such a tender age as opposed to ministering to their emotional and mental health. Our children are not commodities. The early years should be spent filling their emotional love tanks. Enjoy them. Take them to the park, zoo and the museum. Read to them. Most of all love them unconditionally! Remember also that young children learn best through play so couple anything you want to teach them with fun.

Question

Can I assume you do not advocate preschool programs?

Answer

The preschool programs which are nurturing and engaging for the active young child are fine however no program can replace a loving parent/ teacher. If you are pressed to utilize a preschool then choose one that respects young children and allows him/her to engage in multi-sensory learning. It should foster independent learning which builds a foundation. Unfortunately, to accommodate the increasing number of working parents and others, pseudo super schools for toddlers and preschoolers which compete with one another for your dollar has mushroomed. The result is these schools promise parents super children and force children to do a lot of rote learning instead of personal discovery which is appropriate for young children. Parents can work with their preschool children. Visit www.mops.org for resources.

Question

Spanish is my native tongue. My English is not great. How can I help my child in school?

Answer

All of suggested tips may be used with English as Second Language children. For young children get books in Spanish and English. Read to your child in both books. Also gets lots of books on tapes. Your child’s English will improve as a result of total immersion so you want him to make the connection with the written word. That’s why books on tape are so great. Most public libraries have books in different languages. You can also improve your confidence in English by taking Continuing Education classes and audio tapes.

Question

My daughter absolutely hates to read. She is still reading on an elementary level although she is in middle school. How can I motivate her to read at home?

Answer

First, I would solidify her understanding of phonics and word study skills. Review the concepts in a multi-sensory approach. Do some teaching of vocabulary. As a teen she needs interesting and motivating books to read. Get her high interest/ low vocabulary and play learning games with her to reinforce her skills. You may do a web search to locate low vocabulary but high interest resources for her.

Question

Frankly, as an educator, I take offense to what you’re doing. How dare you tell parents that they can help their own children? Suppose they do something wrong. It’s the teacher’s job to teach not the parents. Parents are to assist in children’s learning not to lead. Isn’t it a teacher’s job to teach?

Answer

I didn’t realize I was making such a powerful political statement when I suggested parents could be more proactive in their children’s education. First of all I am a parent and an educator. So I understand both sides of the issue. The sad fact is that not all teachers teach. This fact has been illustrated time and time again with my tutoring students I have also seen it first hand as a teacher and administrator. Consider this; one bad teacher can set a student back academically and emotionally. Can a parent afford to blindly ignore this?

The truth is most teachers are great and caring individuals. It is these teachers who will acknowledge that some of their colleagues do not hold to the same convictions as they do. This is particularly true in urban schools. (Read Joseph Kozol Savage Inequalities) Also home-schoolers across the country are proving schools do not necessarily produce the best academicians as home educated students continue to excel. Many home-school parents do not hold teaching degrees, in fact most lack a college education but they do possess a love for their children and a tenacity to get the best education for their child. Home-schoolers out score those in conventional schools. Even African American home-schoolers close the proverbial educational gap. Parents can be great teachers and lead in the education process.

Question

My high school son seems to need practice in his basic math and reading skills. I don’t have the time to do it with him. In fact he’s resistant to me helping him at all. Any suggestions?

Answer

There are a number of good tutoring/ learning centers. Each of these guarantees to bring a student up to grade level if he follows their sequential program. Some work with building their confidence and self esteem and is computer based. Satellite Learning also has books and materials for teen learners.

Question

Are you suggesting that all rote learning is bad? For instance, how do I teach simple things like the fifty states?

Answer

No. Some rote learning is essential but if you can make it fun and teach it in context not only will children learn but they will retain the information longer because they would have made an emotional connection with the information.

Question

Your ideas sound exciting. How can a tired mother who works hard all day come home and get into all this teaching stuff?

Answer

You cannot do it all but you can get a few ideas and perhaps have one teaching evening. Start small. Begin playing some educational games on Fridays. Start reading the classics to your child at bedtime. Get books on tape. Listen to them with your child while you prepare dinner. Discuss the story with your child. Visit some fun web sites with your child. Visit websites like www.aakulturezone.com/kidz/index.html or www.scholastic.com for resources and activities for parents and children. Small beginnings like that will spark you to do more.

Question

I have what seems like a lazy child. I know he has the potential but I can’t get him to pick up a book on his own. He trudges through his required school reading. What can I do?

Answer

He probably needs more motivation in his learning. Talk to him about what he wants to learn. Take him to the library and get books he would like. If he says he‘s not interested in anything, then its time for a bit of research on your part. Read “Honey for a Child’s Heart”, or talk to your librarian. Ask her what are most kids his age interested in. Try to get him hooked on series books. (Good series--- that is like the Boxcar Children or American Girl Series) Also, read to him. The Escape into the Night and the Riverboat Series by Lois Walfried Johnson are excellent. It will keep both of you interested. Her books are all historical fiction and accurate historically. In fact, I still love reading her books with my kids and it reinforces history and critical thinking skills.

Question

My daughter is a great reader but lousy speller What can I do?

Answer

Review phonics rules with her. I’ve noticed early readers, particularly those that are self-taught learn to recognize words by sight. You can also get spelling words from her books.