MSI Press Blog

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly. #35 Keep Up Good Communication We all need each other. ~Leo Buscaglia   The beginning of a new school year means many changes for your child. This time of year can be overwhelming and frustrating to some children. Your child may feel anxious about all the changes—a new grade level, a new classroom, different people in her class, a new teacher, possibly even a new building. That is a lot of changes for anyone! As your child starts this new school year, remember that good communication between her and the family will be essential in making the transition smooth. Communicating regularly with her about her day and her upcoming assignments can help to avoid last minute panic about projects due the next day, misplaced homework, lost paperwork for field trips, picture day forms, and other such things. Keep up consistent communication:...

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.  #34 Meet the Teacher   Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself. ~Chinese Proverb               Have you met your child’s new teacher yet? If not, call or email him. Schedule a time when you both have a few minutes to chat. If he has sent home a lot of information, you may already have a pretty good feel for his philosophy, the schedule of the class, and his expectations for the year. You may just want to stop in to introduce yourself before or after school. If you are full of questions, it is usually best to call or write to schedule a time that is convenient for the both of you to meet. Keep in mind that before school teachers are usually busy preparing the classroom and materials for the day’s lessons. A lengthy discussion may be inconvenient the...

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly. #32 Develop a Plan   If you are planning for a year, sow rice  if you are planning for a decade, plant a tree; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people. Richard Fenyman               Becoming a lifelong learner certainly requires persistence, but it also requires a plan. In Part 1 (Idea #4) you learned about setting goals by helping your child write down what he aspired to accomplish. Now that school has begun, perhaps it is a good time to take a good look at those goals. Now that he has embarked on a journey into a new grade, your child’s goals and expectations may be changing. He may realize that the goal he had originally set for himself is a bit too ambitious or not quite challenging enough. Take time today to review his original goa...