When parenting preschoolers, it is vital to think ahead to what is important in your child's development. Once a child reaches his formative learning years, he will need the basic skill of reading to help him learn the more complex lessons. Children cannot learn from their math, geography, or history textbooks if they cannot understand the words contained within them. This means starting your children off early with a love of reading, which will help them excel in academics in the long run.
Having already taught your child to speak, she can associate words with physical things within her environment. The next step is transferring this understanding into written words. Spending at least 30 minutes a night reading with your child helps her pick up the concept of reading. Using your finger to follow text as you read aloud helps her associate the words you say with those she can see on the page. When parenting preschoolers, it is important to remember that their minds are like sponges, and they absorb visual stimuli.
To reinforce this activity, it is important to choose the right day care/preschool. Ensure that your child is exposed to reading and books within his daily life away from home so that it reinforces your own efforts. Find out what the preschool does to enrich children, and choose one that combines education with a fun, interactive learning environment.
Parenting preschoolers is all about setting good examples. If your child does not see you reading, she may not take an interest. Let your child see you reading newspapers or books, as this will show her how fun it is being able to read. Things that children associate as fun are the activities they most want to do. Make reading an entertaining and fun bonding time in your home with quality, child-friendly books.
The direct correlation between exposure to books and improved school performance was demonstrated in a study by the National Endowment for the Arts. Titled "To read or Not to Read: A Question of National Consequence," the study compared the number of books at home to a child's test scores, and the results were very telling. In homes with fewer than 10 books, test scores were around 40 points lower than those with over 100 books. Read often with your child and it will reap great dividends in a variety of ways.
The time has come. Your son or daughter is graduating from high school in a year or two. But as the college brochures and applications flood your teen's mailbox, you begin asking yourself, “How do I help my son or daughter find the right college?” Where, you wonder, should you both begin?
It's important to understand that when it comes to finding the right college, there really isn't a “right” and a “wrong” answer, and it's important not to think of it in these terms. Instead, think in terms of a continuum, with every option falling somewhere along it.
- Location: When you begin the process of finding the right college, consider location. Is your son or daughter the type who would thrive with the independence and new experiences that come along with a long-distance college experience? Or is he or she more of a homebody, perhaps likely to be homesick, if a large distance separated him or her from family and friends?
- Size: Many are initially drawn to major universities, with many thousands of students, and everything that comes with the “big time” college experience. But some students can be easily overwhelmed in such a setting and, for many, a smaller school with a walkable campus, smaller classes, and a more intimate educational experience is a much better fit.
- Focus of study: Does your son or daughter already have an idea of what to select as a focus of study? If yes, then the first step in finding the right college may be determining which colleges may be known for offering strong programs in that particular area. However, if your son or daughter does not have a firm idea as to what he or she would like to focus on, then it may be worth considering schools that offer a more broad-based liberal arts education.
- Readiness: It's important to understand that teens mature differently. Perhaps finding the right college may actually mean finding the right college-preparatory high school. For those who are already disciplined and focused, being challenged and prepared during high school is key. Late bloomers can also have the opportunity to bolster their academic resumes not just through hard work, and hopefully good grades, but also by way of the leadership opportunities and extracurricular activities that colleges look for.
Getting your kids to do their homework can be quite the challenge. It’s a universal truth: kids just don’t 
like homework. But with these eight strategies, parents can gain their child's cooperation, improve academic performance and create homework organizational skills that will aid their child later in life.
Keep a routine.
Keeping life at home as close to a regular schedule as possible can aid homework organizational skills. Make a habit of having kids tackle homework and studying while you prepare dinner or clean the house. When the kids see you in full productivity mode, they are more likely to follow suit.
Limit the distractions.
Turn the phone on silent. Shut off the television. Too much noise can hinder positive strides toward developing basic homework organizational skills.
Make a workspace.
Aside from ditching the distractions, children should have adequate space to work. A clean, well-lit area with a table and chair are all you really need. Don't let the kids slump on the couch, where comfort can easily become a temptation to turn on the television.
Be available, but let them do the work.
Be there if your kids have questions or need help, but otherwise let them do the work. Give advice and guidance as needed. And if you’re not sure they understood the material, go over problem areas again.
Pay attention.
Stress the importance of paying attention in the classroom. Studying at home only works if the child is learning in class as well.
Ban procrastination.
Don’t let book reports and projects go to the last minute. Encourage your child to balance his time so that larger workloads can be accomplished without the last-minute rush. Tell him that it’s best to dedicate a little extra time each night to a large project, and he will build homework organizational skills that will be valuable for college-level courses later in life.
Build morale, not bank accounts.
Monetary rewards for meeting academic expectations are not always the best option for building better homework organizational skills in your children. Always reward your children with positive feedback. Building morale builds better self-esteem. Good grades and your support are the true incentives.
Keep in contact with the teachers.
Attend parent-teacher meetings when able. Know your child's academic strengths and weaknesses. Forming a bond with your child's teacher can foster good work habits and enhance academic performance in the classroom and at home.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Vday greeting from Gulu
This is Karen and Trish.... Happy Valentine’s Day!! After a 7:00 breakfast and devotional this morning (about love, appropriately) we packed into the vans and headed to Opit, a village about 2 hours away from Gulu. It was a long bumpy ride on a dirt road, but it was so fun to see the excitement on the children’s faces as our vans drove by, following a truck of mattresses stacked about 30 feet tall. They ran out of their huts squealing and waving with the biggest smiles we have ever seen. I’m pretty sure their favorite word is “Byieeeeee”.
When we arrived to the village, we had about an hour of playtime with the kids. They jumped ropes, played with parachutes and beanbags, and drew pictures with markers, which is something most of them have never seen before (they typically only use pencils so color is new for them!). Most of them were so glad we were there and 
couldn’t wait to touch us and be held, but a few of the children were too scared to come out of their huts. We walked over to one hut with two toddlers in it who were crying. We handed an M&M to them and they started warming up to us. Chocolate never fails. The little girl looked to be around 2 years old, and the little boy around 5. They weren’t wearing any shoes and had very little clothes on. I could not find their care-giver and they were filthy, completely covered in mud and dirt head to toe. I grabbed wet wipes from the van and began to give them little “sponge baths”. Their tears turned to smiles. I have never seen two kids so happy to have their noses wiped and the mud washed off their feet and hands. Soon after, they were out of their huts, playing and socializing with the other children. I’m thankful for that moment that God used us to wipe the dirt and tears off of them and bring laughter to their faces. It reminded me why we are here.
After handing out the mattresses, bedding, bible, and nets we got to do something very new and special. For so long, many people who were not registered with Health Alert Uganda have shown up to the distributions, hoping to get a bed, but we have not been able to provide one. One of the most heartbreaking things about these trips is turning people away. Today we decided that we are going to give these people that are signing up with Health Alert mosquito nets that they can use until the next team comes in June, when they will be able to also receive a bed. This gives them hope for what is to come and the mosquito net could save them from serious disease until that time comes. Sweet Sleep is walking out on faith in this endeavor, trusting that God will provide. We were able to get on the computer at the Health Alert offices today to post to Facebook and other outlets, asking people to donate money to provide these nets and we don’t doubt it will happen. A mosquito net only costs $8 and can save the life of one of these sweet children.
One of the things that touched my heart most today was a lady that was waiting around after we had handed out all of the beds and nets. We had large tarp-like bags (similar to a gigantic trash bag) that the nets were kept in and normally these would get thrown away. As I folded up the bag to put with the rest of the “trash”, a lady walked over to me holding out her hands and even through the language barrier, I could see that she was desperate for me to hand it to her. When she received that bag, tears immediately started streaming down her face and she kept shaking my hand and smiling. She held so tightly to that bag, as if it was her most valuable possession. It broke my heart, but also taught me a valuable lesson. A lot of times we tend to take for granted the things we have, because we have so much. This lady was overjoyed to have received what most of us would consider “trash”. It is hard to grasp this thought, because we don’t have the kind of needs these people have. However, the bible tells us, to whom much is given, much is required. I believe God can use moments like this to not only offer her hope, but to teach us the importance and responsibility to care for others and open our eyes to what true suffering is.
We also got the chance to go to one of the small villages down the road and see first-hand where one of the new mattresses was going. The huts range in sizes, but the one we looked at was about a 10ft wide circle with a straw mat on the floor, a hole in the ground that they fill with charcoal or wood for cooking over, and some medicines and corn tucked into the straw pieces of the thatched roof. There are no bathrooms, or running water, or even separate rooms in most of them, things most people take for granted. One of the children living in the hut we visited was around 3 years old and suffered from Spina Bifida. She was unable to walk and had been sleeping on the floor. The team helped the family set up the new mattress and mosquito net. They were so grateful, as were we.
After everything was finished, we headed back to the Health Alert office to prepare for the next day. We were all exhausted, hungry, and covered in dirt, but there was work to do and the team came together great. Jennifer brought us all water and put some more pep in our step and we were able to roll 220 more mattresses and nets and get bags ready for tomorrow’s distribution. After dinner, we got the opportunity to have a small “surprise” birthday celebration for Jonathan, cake and all. The candles were a cross between sparklers and small fireworks, which made for some good pictures when he tried to blow them out. We then got to offer each other encouragement and share different stories from the day.
Tomorrow we have three different locations so we will be leaving bright and early around 7am and are all looking forward to getting to see what precious children God brings to us!
Karen and Trish Lane
by Kevin Chopson, 11 Grade English teacher, Davidson Academy, Nashville Tennessee
The poem "The Registry Room" has been nominated for a "Push Cart Prize." “The Pushcart Prize – Best of the Small Presses series, published every year since 1976, is the most honored literary project in America.” Chopson had 17 poems published in 2011 in 13 different magazines or journals.
The Registry Room
Ellis Island, July 11, 1909
The light forms pools of ice
across the tiled floor –
turning terra cotta
into cracking ponds
rich with finely measured
geometric faults.
Hemispheric windows,
three men tall, allow
the cloud-filtered sun
to pour itself into
this room of judgment,
full of guarded hope.
A thousand in line today,
standing here, shaken,
on these frozen waters –
a slippery sheet,
ever thinning underfoot
with each step forward.
The Inspector, manifest in hand,
checking names, and
asking, asking, asking
as the doctor marks your lapel.
You’ve heard of this.
They pull you aside.
Your knees buckle a bit,
Mrs. Mulligan,
as they send you back,
or quarantine your dreams –
husband Charles
will take the children.
– Kevin Marshall Chopson
orginally published by the San Pedro River Review, Spring 2011
by Jim Carter, Assistant Athletic Director, Davidson Academy, Nashville, Tennessee
We have all failed. We will all fail. In baseball, you can fail 70% of the time and still be considered a great player. The quicker we realize that, the quicker we can turn those failures into future successes. Success doesn’t mean avoiding failure. As we drive down the road, we all hit potholes, take wrong turns, and forget to change the oil. The only person who avoids failure completely is the person who never gets out of the driveway. Therefore, the real issue is not whether we are going to fail. It’s whether we are going to fail successfully. As Lou Holtz observed: “The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual views mistakes.” If we are going to keep moving forward, we must learn to fail successfully.
Many people spend their entire lives avoiding risk or decisions that could lead to failure because of a fear of failure and rejection. They fail to realize that success is based on the ability to fail and continue getting up. When you have the right mindset, failure is neither fatal or fi nal. It is the launching pad to success. Think about it. When you have succeeded at something, you don’t consider your mistakes as failures. You think of them as “learning experiences,” “growing pains,” “detours,” or “opportunities for growth.” Successful people don’t let failure go to their heads. Instead of dwelling on the negatives, thinking of what might have been and how things haven’t worked out, they focus on the positives.
As we grind each day, let’s remember the rewards of success: learning from our mistakes, thinking about how we can improve ourselves, improve others, and improve our situations
. 
by Bill Alexander, Assistant Athletic Director, Davidson Academy, Nashville, Tennessee
Growing up, my room probably looked like most boys’ rooms of the 1980s. I had a stereo and a TV of my own, with an Atari 2600 game system hooked up to it. I had lots of Alabama memorabilia and posters of my three favorite athletes of the day. On one wall hung Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins. On another wall hung Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves. On my door hung Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees. Mixed in with all that stuff was memorabilia from my own exploits at Knox Doss Junior High and Beech High Schools.
I looked up to those guys who played at Alabama, and I looked up to those guys whose posters hung on my wall. Those guys were famous, and I suppose in one way or another they all had some kind of impact on my life. But when I really think about who had an impact on making me into the person I am today, I don’t really think about Alabama football players or professional athletes. I think about my high school coaches. People like Herschel Moore, Boots Scott, Roger Holmes, Roger Elizer, and Charlene Mason. I think about the older guys that I played with like Duke Porter, Joey Philpot, Corey Cartwright, and Robert Woods. I think about guys I played with like Dan Page, Mark Carver, Chad Cowan, Troy Fuqua, and Andy Fuqua. Mostly I think about my parents, Art and Peggy Alexander.
These people, the people that I interacted with on almost a daily basis at such an impressionable age, are the ones who truly helped to shape me into the person that I have become. They influenced me not because they are famous. Most of them are unknown outside of their own circles of influence. They influenced me because they invested in me as a person.
The same is true at Davidson Academy. Teachers, coaches, classmates, and families take time to invest in each other’s lives. It is part of what I believe makes our school special. I watch every day as people positively impact the lives of those around them. It is also something that we remind our athletes of which they have to be mindful. Remember, that kid in the elementary school wants to be just like you. They will imitate you, and you have to careful of the things that you say and do around them so that it will leave a positive impression.
There may be a group of famous people whose posters our kids hang on their walls today. Those people may even influence our children in some small way. I believe that we are much more likely to be influenced by the people we interact with on a daily basis. I am so thankful that the role models my kids have in their lives are the people of our great school. That is a blessing, but it is also a reminder that someone is always watching.
By: Kathy Watson, certified Early Childhood Educator
What do I see in very young children that I hope that they never outgrow?
I’ve thought about this question alot. In my 29th year of teaching at the same school, which has students ages preschool-12th grade, I’ve had the blessing and privilege of watching children literally grow up in front of my eyes. The years seem to fly by like minutes—teeth are lost, friends are chosen, bodies mature, the boyfriend/girlfriend thing takes over. I’m in awe of parents who are instrumental in guiding children through things I’ve already finished. My two children are grown and married with children of their own—hallelujah!
I dearly hope that “my” children always have families who play together, families who eat together, parents who encourage them in their endeavors. I hope every child is prayed over—we never outgrow the need for prayer. When we sit in our “circle time” and I’m telling our Bible story, I hope they never lose the desire of learning more about God—of His great love for us and His provision for us.
I hope they never lose the joy of learning new things. I have 22 children this year in my two, separate classes. They come with gladness and enthusiasm to tackle each new day. They think it’s fun to learn, and indeed it is!
I pray they never lose the joy of reading. When I see my students sit in my rocker and model reading a book to a doll or friend, I know that a world of wonder is beginning to open. Reading makes you a lifelong learner! I hope they forever remember that sense of pride and accomplishment when words finally make sense. The more they read, the better they read. The better they read, the more they learn. The more they learn, the smarter they are. The greatest gift for a teacher or parent is to watch a child succeed.
Last, but not least, I always hope my children realize that they never outgrow the need for rules and obedience to authority. In my classroom, the “sad bear chair” (our school mascot is a bear) is a place where only the worst offenses are taken. Time out is the worst thing that can happen! I only wish every offense could be cured by a sad bear chair time-out!
I love being a teacher and being a teacher in a Christian school. I get to see them grow up, come back for hugs and rejoice with them in their achievements. Children here are loved and cared for physically, emotionally and spiritually. And those are also things we never outgrow.
Benefits of Being in the Band
By Elizabeth Evans
Music has been in existence even since our earliest cavemen predecessors. From humming and banging on drums all the way to creating an entire symphony of digital sounds, music has been a dominant part of every culture. Music is a universal language that no matter the background or the individual amount of foreknowledge, any person can enjoy and understand. Therefore, music education is of vital importance! In particular, instrumental music in an ensemble stimulates more activity within the human brain than any other academic discipline. Here are a few other benefits of being in the band:
- Higher SAT scores and standardized test score from music students
- Playing music, especially in an ensemble, has been specifically linked to making the brain grow. Taking private lessons enlarges portions of the brain 25% more than those music students not taking private lessons.
- Improved Math, Science, and Language grades from band students are linked to band instruction
- Band students develop a greater sense of team work, individual responsibility, and discipline than the average non-band student
Not only does a student grow socially, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually by playing instrumental music, he becomes able to fully express himself. This outward expression of an inner emotion aids in developing a passion for something that he will carry with himself through life! The passion for music is inspiring and contagious, so grab an instrument and get to playing!
(See Part I of this article below.)
Enter now the Christian school, whether affiliated with a particular church or denomination or not. What is its purpose? To whom is it accountable? By what arrangement do its students enroll and matriculate? Not only does the Christian school exist to serve students and families, but it has much more specific mission that would not be appropriate--or even legal--for a public school. The Christian school promises to support its families in their goal of bringing up children "in the nurture and admontion of the Lord." Without apology, the Christian school seeks to instill in its students a "world view" that is different from the world. The Christian school builds its activities and instruction around practices that are illegal in the public schools: prayer, praise, Bible study, and spiritual training. The goal of the Christian school is not merely to produce good citizens who will contribute to society, but persons of faith and character who will be salt and light in the world.
It is tempting to decry the ACLU for its efforts to keep religion out of public schools. But we Christians should be glad there is separation of church and state. If we had a government-sponsored religion, who is to say what religion it would be? Islam? Buddhism? Or Christianity? If prayer were allowed, or even prescribed, in public schools, to whom would students and teachers pray? Allah? Buddha? Krishna? No, government-sponsored or regulated prayer does not belong in the public schools (although it has been correctly noted that as long as tests are given, there WILL be prayer in the schools!)
My hope—and prayer--is that families can have the freedom and privilege of seeking the educational option that best fits their children and their own faith. Christian schools are not for everyone. Christian schools are not free. And of course there are no perfect schools. Christian parents who want the values and beliefs their children are learning at home and at church to be echoed and supported at school, however, should prayerfully consider the Christian school.