FOR DEAR OLD DAD

William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. He raised all six kids by himself on a rural farm in Washington State. While listening to a Mother’s Day sermon, his daughter Sonora realized her father deserved to be honored for his selflessness and sacrifice. So, on June 19^th, 1910, the first Father’s Day celebration was held in Spokane, Washington. In 1966, President Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3^rd Sunday in June as Father’s Day and President Nixon signed the law, which finally made it permanent in 1972.

This coming Sunday, Dad is officially the “head honcho, ruler of the roost, and king of the castle.” Today’s eclectic family dictates that the gifts and pleasures bestowed are not dependent on DNA. “Dad” is the man who lovingly and respectfully helps raise the kids. He’s the one who deserves all the honors, kisses and kudos, regardless of his official title.  

If money is not a concern, a weekend trip to Pebble Beach, or 49er season tickets are more than appropriate. If, however, your piggy bank is looking a bit emaciated, there are still ways to make his day - one he will remember with love and appreciation. And the best part, the kids do all the work!

Turn the lawn chair into a throne that puts within his reach everything he needs to be king for the day. Use clamps or tape to attach appropriate accessories (umbrella for shade, drink cup, back-scratcher, etc.) Brainstorm together everything he enjoys. Bring out the boom box or i-pod with his favorite songs, and a bucket for soaking his feet. Serve his favorite smoothie, or beer in a frosted mug. Dish up his favorite meal on a breakfast tray, and if you really want to go out on a limb, assign each family member slave duty for an hour. Dad can demand back, foot and head rubs. One minion may have to wash the car, while others clean the back yard or garage. If you’re looking to get out of manual labor, offer to bring him the paper and read it to him!

Don’t forget the homemade cards. They are truly priceless. Use construction paper, pictures of the family and endearing quotes, like, “A wise son maketh a glad father – Proverbs 10.1.”  Or, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years – Mark Twain.” And my favorite, “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother” – Henry Ward Beecher. For more quotes, poems, recipes, and gift ideas go to www.loveyoufather.com.

Dads, if you’re reading this, act surprised! Also, go over the top when showing your everlasting appreciation for the special gifts your children made. Listen to their stories, adventures and congratulate them on a job well done. As Shakespeare penned in “Merchant of Venice”, “It is a wise father that knows his own child.”

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

SCOOP ON THE SUMMER LEARNING

American schools were traditionally designed to fit the needs of farmers. Children were released from school in late spring to help with planting and in fall to help with the harvest. Although today only 3% of our population makes their living in agriculture, this calendar still remains the standard.

As a result, exhilarated school children are freed from their academic entailments in June. Parents may not be as thrilled. Along with finding sitters and keeping kids safe, summer learning loss is a concern. Studies have proved that this loss is especially prevalent for students with special needs or of low social economic status. Math and spelling skills are most affected - possibly a result of the lack of opportunities to practice. So, let’s find some opportunities!

Summer school programs are a valuable intervention for academic enrichment and acceleration. Unfortunately, most Bay Area summer school classes have been canceled because of the lack of funding. There are many other commercial summer programs, but most of them cost money. If you are interested in finding one near you, check in with your local library, YMCA, or community center.

If you are unable to finance a formal summer program but still want to create opportunities for your children to practice academic skills, there are many no-fuss, homespun ways. 

Number Sense

Playing “I-spy” with numbers in the newspaper or a magazine reinforces number recognition. Ask your young ones to find the numbers in their address, their age, the ages of their siblings, parents, or their birth date and phone number.

Practice reading lists of numbers from left to right by perusing the stock market section. Using stock quotes can also facilitate reciting, writing, adding and subtracting larger numbers.

To bolster percentage and decimal proficiency, check the weather section in your newspaper or online and check climates across the nation and world. Sports fans can acquaint themselves with football, baseball and hockey statistics.

Reading and Writing Competence

Even for Kindergarteners, finding the letters in their name should be easy. To make it more challenging, have them distinguish between capitals and lower-case letters and locate basic words (ex: cat, mom, love).

Comprehension improvement, vocabulary development and sequential understanding can be supported through cartoon strips. Cut them out, mix them up, and have your summer students put them in order. Or select five pictures from a magazine and create a story to go along with the pictures.

Play a more advance version of “I-spy” and have older kids find news stories about government officials, editor’s opinions, weather reports and want ads.

Clip some examples of advertisement and see if you and the kids are able to find the secret messages hidden in the propaganda. Also identify the target audience. It's not as easy as you might think.

For some practical life skills, go through coupons and have the family guess the prices of various products.

Don’t forget to get physical. Whether it be dancing, skipping, swimming or biking, enjoy the nice weather and stay both mentally and physically active. Your brain and all your other muscles will benefit from these eclectic workouts this summer.

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

On July 4th in 1803, news of the Louisiana Purchase reached Washington. On July 4th, 1826, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died. On July 4,

1863, President Abraham Lincoln learned of the Union victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg, signifying the beginning of the end of the Confederacy. General Lee never regained Union territory. Read on and pick up some more tidbits to impress friends at this year’s July fourth BBQ. The fireworks won’t be the only things sparkling!

In order to declare our independence from Great Britain, Congress appointed a committee of five to write The Declaration of Independence. It included: John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Robert Livingston of New York, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut. Of these five, Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the majority. Although Jefferson was a very gifted writer, the main reason he was chosen was his status as a Virginian. Virginia was the oldest and considered the most prestigious colony.

In his first draft, Jefferson (a slave owner himself) included slavery as one of the grievances against the King of Great Britain. The original draft included the following. “He [King George III] has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred right of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infidel powers, is the warfare of the Christian King of Great Britain… He is now exciting those very people to rise in arms among us, and to purchase that liberty of which he has deprived them, by murdering the people upon whom he also obtruded them; thus paying off former crimes committed against the liberties of one people, with crimes which he urges them to commit against the lives of another.” The clause was removed because it was imperative that all the representatives, including those from slave-owning southern states, support it.

On July 1, 1776, all but Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted to approve the

Declaration. They changed their minds the next day. So, on July 2nd Congress approved the Declaration of Independence.

John Adams, in one of his now famous letters to wife Abigail, penned,

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of

America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

Today we celebrate our independence from Britain and the birth of our Democracy pretty much the way Adams foretold, with parades and picnics, fireworks and frivolities. We just do it two days hence. However you plan on celebrating the birth of our nation, I pray it is filled with family, friends and patriotic pleasures.

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

DAD MATTERS AS MUCH AS MOM

In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared that the third Sunday in June would be Father’s Day, 50 years after the country had begun celebrating American mothers. Nevertheless, as traditional roles around the house have changed, fathers are gaining more attention. And rightfully so!

Dad’s role is crucial, not only to the children in his life, but also to our society as a whole. Children without fathers are five times more likely to be poor, three times more likely to use drugs, three times more likely to have emotional and behavioral   problems, twice as likely to drop out of school, and twice as likely to be incarcerated. Unfortunately, 40% of children in America are raised without a father.

Study after study empirically demonstrates that a father’s role in a child’s well being is just as important as mom’s. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 44% of children in mother-only families are living in poverty, compared to only 12% of children living in a household headed by a married couple. A study by the Department of Education showed that students whose fathers were highly involved at school were 43% more likely to receive A’s. Conversely, students living in homes without a father were twice as likely to repeat a grade as students with a father in the home.

A father can really make substantial difference, whether he be married, single, divorced, widowed, gay, or straight, a stepfather, a stay-at-home dad, or the primary family provider. What is important is that he is involved. So how are we going to show our thanks to dear old dad? We can check out how other cultures do it.

 

Australians have festivities all day, starting with a community breakfast, then games, followed by picnics and fishing contests. It might be fun to set up a breakfast with a few family friends and plan an outing for dad.

The Irish donate to charity in the name of their father or perform acts of community service to pay tribute to the important men in their lives. How about letting dad sleep in and take the kids for an altruistic playdate? Or, enjoy a charitable family outing - www.volunteerinfo.org offers volunteer opportunities across the Bay.

South Africans gather in their communities and read stories and poems, focusing on strong male role models. Here are some good reads with patriarchal themes:

This I Believe: On Fatherhood by Dan Gediman, is a compilation of original essays. It is filled with moving memories of love, heartbreak, lessons learned, opportunities missed, and other sentimental stories.

In, Just the Two of Us, actor Will Smith tells a touching tale of fatherhood and a father’s love as his child grows from a boy into a man.

Monday is One Day by Arthur A. Levine is a love note from a working parent to a child.

For a real sentimental punch, have the children make their own book for Dad. Klutz Build-a-Book: Why I love my Dad by Sherri Haab is a kit containing everything a kid needs to create a one-of-a-kind book just for dad to show off, share and cherish.

Whether spending time outdoors, reading a book together, performing some community service or just sitting down to a family meal, enjoy creating some wonderful new memories and traditions of your own this Father’s Day.

Sigmund Freud wrote, “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.” May you and your family enjoy the protection and love of the men in your family that answers to “dad.”

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

READ ALOUD TO YOUR CHILD

Bill Gates once quipped, “I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the fact that I had a chance to read a lot.” Many of us grow up with the assumption that we only read aloud to children who have not yet learned how to read. So not true! Think about it. Do you enjoy someone reading to you? Do you listen to audiobooks? I have purchased many more books than songs from iTunes.  It makes me love reading even more! Reading aloud with your child encourages them to read. And practice really does make perfect.       

To use a somewhat gruesome colloquialism, reading aloud with your child can kill many birds with just one stone. It builds the bond between you and your child. It provides a strong, positive influence and it promotes the love of literature and the promise of a life-long reader. Through books children learn empathy for others, see conflicts and possible solutions, and see other sides to a story. They also get the opportunity to view persons not in their immediate environment, for example, the elderly, or people from different ethnic backgrounds or social status. Reading aloud also increases listening skills, vocabulary, memory, and language skills.

It’s a no-brainer really. You can read anything together. It can be recipes, the newspaper or even a teen magazine (first rule of war – get to know the enemy!) You can memorize a poem together, read the bible or a book for school. It can also be in any language. The benefits are universal.           

Still not convinced? Let me throw some data your way. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, children whose parents read to them tend to become better readers and perform better in school. Need more? Many doctors believe reading to a child makes them healthier! In fact, the American Medical Association has suggested that all doctors prescribe “reading to children.”

A good rule of thumb to maximize comprehensions is to read aloud a piece of literature that is slightly above your child’s reading level. If the piece is below your child’s reading level, they can read it independently. If it is at their reading level, you can read it together - take turns reading aloud or read side by side and discuss. Not sure of your child’s’ reading level? Ask their teacher. For a quick check of a particular piece of literature, have your child read about 25 words of the passage out loud. If they miss more than a few words, it’s too difficult for them to read by themselves.     

Consider role modeling the importance of reading. Make it a priority over cleaning the house, texting or even making dinner. It only takes 20 minutes, but I bet you’ll enjoy this time together so much that you’ll soon be prolonging it. Every day you accomplish this loving task, you are telling your children that reading is important, and so are they.

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

WHY CHARTER SCHOOLS DON'T WORK

Educational historian and former assistant secretary of education, Diane Ravitch,  was once a proponent of charter schools and wrote books and articles making their case. However, in her book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education,  she explained why she has changed her mind. “Given the weight of the studies, evaluations and federal test data, I concluded that deregulations and privately managed charter schools were not the answer to the deep-seated problems of America education…Charter schools, privately run but publicly funded, cherry-pick a neighborhood’s best students and kick out under-performers, forcing surrounding public schools to teach a depleted talent pool.”

Charter schools, for the most part, are publicly funded schools that are annulled from the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to traditional public schools. They operate under a written contract, or charter. These contracts specify how the school will be held accountable for improved achievement. Their design suggests that if they improve students’ achievement, their contracts will be renewed. Those that do not will be closed. Sounds great, however, as it stands, only a tiny percentage of charters have been shut down, and those overwhelmingly had their charter terminated based on misspent money, not student performance. According to a study for the U.S. Dept of Education, “Charter schools rarely face sanctions.”

The movement toward charter schools is expanding despite the absence of accountability. There is no strong or convincing evidence that charter schools have improved student achievement or that they are being held more accountable for academic outcomes than regular public schools. Charter school proponents point to a 2003 study by the RAND Corporation as evidence of success. It concluded that charter school students in California “…are keeping pace with comparable students in conventional schools.” This is not an endorsement. Indeed, given the promise to raise achievement, this statistic reflects failure.

In fact, a national study conducted by Stanford University economist Margaret Raymond found that 37% of charter schools got worse results than comparable neighborhood public schools, 46% did about the same and only 17% were superior to public schools. Raymond surmised, “if this study shows anything, it shows we’ve got a 2 to 1 margin of bad charters to good charters.”

California Charter School Association claims that California charter schools “get results because they are highly responsive to students needs, do a better job increasing student achievement and demonstrate commitment to quality standards.” This type of propaganda is nothing but a marketing tool. As consumers we are bombarded daily with astonishing declarations about products and services. We are weary from deciphering the snake oils from the real McCoys. Marketing schools in this way is turning education into a commercial transaction, rather than a democratic ideal.

I understand the public’s frustration with traditional public schools, and as an education and a mother I strongly seek better results from our educational system. Charter schools, however, are not the answer. They have been a costly venture on an unproven alternative while cutting public school resources - resources we have paid for.

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.

PRACTICING SAFE TEXT

“Sexting” (sending sexually explicit messages or photographs from a cell phone) is not nearly as common as some may have believed. In fact, national surveys suggest that only 3 to 7 percent of teens are sending or receiving sexually graphic message or images. 

 

Reading this statistic, I was relieved but also a bit skeptical because telling the truth is not the first virtue that comes to mind when considering teens. However, it’s not important what I believe. The fact is, sexting is out there and has become part of today’s technically advanced world. So, parents need to understand the implications, collect information and be prepared to give advice about what to do if their child sends or receives a sexting image.

We would all like to believe that our kids are too naïve or too intelligent to get involved in such tawdry business, but the fact is, many, smart, well-educated and worldly people have participated in, and felt the repercussions of sexting. Just ask former U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner or former Texas Congressman Joe Barton.

There can be serious legal implications. Anyone, including minors, who take nude or sexually implicit photos of themselves or someone else underage can be charged with producing or distributing child pornography. 

To be perfectly safe, kids should never take images of themselves that they wouldn’t want everyone – including classmates, teachers and their family to see. This does not only apply to cell phones, but any media-sharing device. Also, if your child receives a sext message, they should not send it to anyone or delete it. They should tell you or another trusted adult.

People aren’t always who they seem to be in cyberspace or in real life. And, relationships change over time so advise your kids to consider that when they press “send” they cannot control where their message may go. In other words, what they send to a boyfriend or girlfriend could easily end up with other friends, complete strangers, and potentially dangerous people.

All that being said, cell phones are not the devil’s handy work. In the event of an emergency, having a cell phone allows your child to contact you, the police or the fire department immediately.  You can also contact your child if there is a family emergency. Also, many phones are now equipped with GPS which will allow you to track your child’s phone, and hence, your child.

If you are not familiar with textonyms (acronyms used in text messaging) spend time with your son or daughter and ask them to show you how to decipher text message basics. Understanding sexting and discussing this dangerous trend is the first preventative step. 

Ronald Reagan adopted an old Russian proverb when discussing US relations with Russia – “Trust, but verify.” This may be the tactic you’ll want to employ when determining the relationships between your child and his cyber-safety.

Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.