Lion’s Den
Parent Newsletter
November/December 2007

Failure is Not an Option!!!! Get it Right the First Time.

Prince George’s County Public Schools  

Principal’s Corner  

The end of first quarter, the beginning of second quarter is often the best time for parents, students, and teachers to partner in order to focus on ways to achieve and maintain student success.  Below are a few suggestions that will make parent conferences as positive and productive as possible.

 •  Talk to your child before the conferences.  Ask him/her about hi/her progress in the class which he/she is having trouble, and whether there is anything you should know before the conference.

 •  When you talk to the teacher, ask about his/her concerns with your child, and whether he/she has any ideas that can help you support your child.

 •  If there is a problem, do bring it up.  State what what you think the problem is, and then listen to the teacher’s point of view on the issue.  Focus on your child -- what is working and what is not working for him/her -- and work together to develop a good solution for your child.

 •  Don’t forget that educational methods have changed since you were in school, and teachers have a wealth of professional knowledge about teaching and learning.  Also, be aware that there is no one right way to teach anything; many different methods can be successful.  If a particular method is not working well for your child, definitely say that, but don’t conclude that a teacher is not doing a good job just because his/her methods are different or unfamiliar.  A specific focus on improving the experience for your child should result in a good solution.

Educationally Yours,

Mrs. Angelique Simpson Marcus, Ed.S.  

Being a Helicopter Parent Doesn’t Help Your Teen

Some parents always hover close to their teens.  That way, they can rescue them when they get in trouble.  Mary got a bad grade on a test?  No problem—Mom will call the teacher to ask about extra credit.  Michael didn’t type his research paper—Dad flies to the rescue and types it for him.  The truth is these “helicopter” parents are keeping their children from learning important lessons.  Their teens don’t worry if they’re caught speeding because they know Mom and Dad will pay the fine.  They don’t pay attention to deadlines because they know their parents will get the deadline extended.  However, sooner or later, these students are going to flounder. In the real word, deadlines do matter.  Parents cannot show up at college to type their son’s or daughter’s paper, so they flunk out of school.  Mom can’t send an excuse when they’re late for work, so they get fired.  The next time your student needs rescuing, don’t be a helicopter parent.  Let your teen make some mistakes.  Don’t rescue them from their own actions.  That’s the way they will learn.  And it’s the way you ground that helicopter forever. 

Sources:  Foster Cline and Jim Fay, Parenting Teens with Love & Logic

 Building Responsibility

Pressure to get high grades and the ease of copying information from the internet or peers are among the many reasons for cheating.  Make sure that your teen knows that cheating is wrong.  Talk to your teen about values, integrity, and commitment to honesty.  If your child worries too much about grades, explain that it is much better to earn a lower grade than to “steal” a higher one.  Don’t bail out teens who are caught cheating.  Support the school’s effort to teach respectful behavior.

 Source:  Coping with a Cheating Child

GENERAL HOMEWORK TIPS FOR PARENTS

Reward progress in homework.

If your child has been successful in homework completion and is working hard, celebrate that success with a special event (e.g., movies, a special dinner, etc.) to reinforce the positive effort. 

Stay informed.
Talk with your child's teacher. Make sure you know the purpose of homework as well as what your child's classroom rules.

 Be positive about homework.
Tell your child about the important school. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires.

When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers.
Giving answers means your child will not learn the material. Too much help teaches your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him or her.

http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/homework/part_pg2.html#2

Help with the HSAs 

If your student needs help in preparing for the high school assessments.  Additional help is available Tuesdays and Thursdays after school 4:15-5:30 until December 21, 2007.  Please contact Dr. Malin (301) 808-8880 for additional information. 

Important Dates to Remember