4 Ways To Help Out At Your Child’s School

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Chances are you’ve heard the expression the “children are our future”. We need to work hard to ensure that the children of today grow up to build a better world of tomorrow. And the only way to make this happen is through top notch education provided to as many children as possible. If you have a child who is in school and want to thank the school for what it has done for your child, there are a few things you can do. Here are a list of ways to give back to your child’s school:

1) Volunteer in the classroom

Teachers have a lot on their plates, and they often need volunteers. Parent volunteers can help out in the classroom by assisting with hands-on classroom activities, reading to the students, or completing tasks such as correcting students’ papers. The teacher will be extremely grateful, and there will also be a lovely bond between the parent and the teacher.

2) Volunteer After School

Whenever the budget of a school district gets cut, the first things to go are after school activities. It is unfortunate that these enriching activities such as sports, music programs and other activities that allow children to explore their passions are being cut. But the programs are much less likely to disappear if parents volunteer to help out. If your child is involved in an afterschool activity, ask the coach or leader if he or she needs any help. This will allow to you spend time with your child and your child’s friends while also lending a hand to programs that need assistance.

3) Donate School Supplies

All too often, teachers need to pay for school supplies out of pocket because they are working on tight budgets. there is always a high demand for everyday supplies such as pencils and paper. It is rare for a teacher’s annual stipend for supplies to last longer than one or two months. If you’re in an office supply store, buy some supplies for your child’s classroom. Your child’s teacher will be extremely grateful.

4) Join the PTA

The PTA, or the National Parent Teacher Association, is a great way to get involved in your child’s education. If your child’s school is not affiliated with the PTA, it probably has something similar such as “home and school” or a booster club. These are independently operated clubs that function in a way similar to the PTA. If you help out in the PTA, or the equivalent in your child’s school, you will be able to get to know your child’s teachers and build a strong network with the other parents. You will also be able to stay up-to-date on the happenings within the school, and the school will thank you for your help.

It is clear that your child’s education is important to you. And one of the best ways to make sure your child gets the best education possible is by helping out within the school. By staying in the know in your school community and assisting the school’s faculty, you are showing your child how important education is, and you’re working to give the future generations an enriching educational experience.

US Department of Education goes Back-to-School on Annual Bus Tour

David K. DonovanThe US Department of Education recently held its sixth annual “Back-to-School Bus Tour. This “Ready For Success” tour lasted five days beginning on September 14th. The tour included multiple stops across Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and ended with a stop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the tour was for senior members of the US Department of Education, including Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, to celebrate and witness the ways in which states and smaller regions of the state are preparing their students for higher learning, as well as aiding them in creating opportunities for themselves.

One of the attendees of the bus tour was Matt Presner, a Teaching Ambassador Fellow at the U.S. Department of Education. According to Presner, one of the highlights of the tour included seeing two universities where, “students with disabilities are not just enrolled in college, they’re thriving, finding success academically and socially in a way that many never could have imagined.”

The two universities included in these observations were the  University of Central Missouri and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Melody Musgrove, director of the Office of Special Education Programs claimed that neither university simply complied with regulations, instead, the director claimed that these universities provided an ; “on-ramp to the rest of our kids’ lives.”

 

It’s easy to understand Musgrove’s enthusiasm for the programming and support that these universities provide for their students when you consider the facts. Youth with disabilities are significantly less likely to enroll in a four year college than their counterparts in the general population. Considering the increase that society and employers place on attaining education post-secondary school, it’s no surprise that this puts these young people who don’t enroll at a disadvantage.

 

However, the success stories coming out of these two schools prove once again that students with disabilities can thrive in four year colleges, and that these numbers of low enrollment should change. Both of these universities offer programs that provide support to match the individual needs of these students, while respecting the freedom, intelligence and independence of these young adults.

 

In years to come, hopefully more institutions of higher learning will provide the tools that can help enable these students to harness and share their strengths and gifts with the rest of the academic community. There exists a need for these academic communities and society at large to change so that it can see the immense talent and undeniable value that these students bring and contribute to the community.

 

Dissolving the Stigma: New Study Reveals Link between Creativity and Autism

David K. Donovan LearningAccording to a new study , those with autism have the ability to excel in creative thinking and processes. Researchers discovered that people with autism were far more likely to produce a creative explanation or solution  to problem-solving questions despite other traits that can cause severe social impairment and make it difficult to maintain a job.

The brains of people with autism function in a way that is unorthodox, allowing them to create unique and original ideas (something that the rest of us often struggle with).

Hoping to change the stigma often associated with autism, this study, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, can serve as a rallying hub for those interested in changing the perception of autism. There has been an overflow of support from the acting community. This includes actress Daryl Hannah, who was diagnosed with autism as a little girl. She shared, “It’s time people with autism and other learning difficulties are seen as people first. I want to educate people without learning disabilities that I’m not all that different to them, and I want people who do have learning disabilities to feel better about themselves by showing my problems. They are not alone.”

What has been reiterated over and over again from those who diagnosed with autism is that it’s not about “helping” or “allowing” them to participate in daily activities. It’s about understanding their needs and encouraging them to utilize their own voice to express themselves.

Cian Binchy, another actor with autism commented, “There just aren’t any people with learning disabilities – in this field I’m the only one. It’s because people with learning disabilities may need a bit of extra support, and a lot of theatre companies and performers can’t be bothered…The boundaries and barriers we’ve placed in the country over mental illness can be difficult.”

There are many misconceptions that have been perpetuated as the norm when they are not. Many see those with autism as antisocial and lacking empathy, but that is not always the case. Individuals should be examined and judged by their own actions (like we all hope to be) and not by a stigma.

Studies such as this coupled with the numerous organizations, individuals and causes lobbying for a social and professional changes are truly galvanizing this movement.

People like Jolanta Lasota, chief executive of the charity Ambitious about Autism, are truly campaigning to encourage employers to view people with learning disabilities as potential candidates in their hiring process. No one should be judged on one single aspect of their being.