I’ve been an advocate for parent involvement in education for many years. But throughout those years, one of the most challenging tasks has been to define this two-way partnership.

What is it that parents and teachers need to understand about working together? And why is this partnering so important to student success?

In Invaluable Allies: Partnering with Parents for Student Success, Margery B. Ginsberg, PhD, an associate professor in the College of Education at the University of Washington, provided some informed answers to these questions.

So much of the time, we think of teaching as a one-way process. Not only do teachers impart information to students who, in turn, develop knowledge and skills, they also teach parents how to facilitate their children’s learning. But Ginsberg rightly points out several assurances that parents want to receive from teachers. One of those assurances is that “the teacher is going to respect and learn from families.” read more »

When teens speak, do people listen?

Natalie, age 18, described her role model as a person with “a clear sense of what is important to her, putting forth the effort to improve and create things that will make a difference.” When Samira, also 18, feels “lazy, tired, or just plain annoyed,” she thinks of her role model and “is motivated to start working again.”

Natalie and Samira were part of my research study on how young people develop the skills, abilities, and motivation to become engaged citizens. They and 42 other college students recalled stories of their childhoods and adolescence and the kinds of people who inspired them.

Role models come into young people’s lives in a variety of ways. They are educators, civic leaders, mothers, fathers, clergy, peers, and ordinary people encountered in everyday life. This study showed than being a role model is not constrained to those with fancy titles or personal wealth.  In fact, students were quick to state that “a true role model is not the person with the best job title, the most responsibility, or the greatest fame to his or her name.” Anyone can inspire a child to achieve their potential in life. read more »

Meet Mrs. Maria Rosa Reifler, a fifth grade teacher at Wilcox Elementary School in East Los Angeles who gives her students more than core curriculum. 

She teaches them about the value of living a life that matters.

I’m struck with how Mrs. Reifler models the concepts of positive youth development in the classroom, helping kids believe in themselves, understand the consequences of the choices they make, and appreciate the value of friendship.

Mrs. Reifler instills important ideas, including how money and achieving goals is secondary to the kind of human being you become. She helps kids develop a positive attitude, encouraging them to lift each other up rather than putting others down. read more »

Ah, the power of music!

I was reminded a few days ago when reading a ScienceDaily research article, Childhood Music Lessons May Provide Lifelong Boost in Brain Functioning, just how powerful music can be in a child’s life.

The article says music lessons can pay off for decades, even for those who no longer play instruments.  Music keeps the mind sharp, serving as a challenging cognitive exercise.

There is a growing body of research that supports how music nurtures children’s success at school and in life. A study in the journal Social Science Quarterly (2009), Adolescents Involved with Music Do Better in School, found that music also had a positive effect on reading and math. And it acknowledged that disadvantaged children have less access to music. read more »