Monthly Archives: June 2016
First of all, let me begin by reminding my readers that this column is my opinion and my opinion only. By that I mean that I am not speaking for the board merely making observations about educational topics and asking for your perspective and input. As I said in my last article appearing in the Fern Ridge Review on June 22, 2016, emotional and psychological support of programs for ages 0-6 help our children find the onramps to success through education and into life. And, as promised in that article, I want to now talk about the economic advantages for all – and that means even those of us who no longer or never had any children in the schools. How in the world could these programs help all of us economically?
While some recognize the importance of social equity in economic terms as well, let’s look more directly at the issues that are affected here. According to the Register Guard Guest Viewpoint from the Oregon Community Foundation, dollars spent in the “early years pay off many times over. We can save anywhere from $3 to $17 for every $1 invested because of lower costs for remedial education, lower crime and incarceration costs, and higher productivity over a lifetime.” [Register Guard 6/16/16] Besides the obvious costs of crime and jail, the higher productivity translates to more taxes paid into local coffers and advances in livability in the community itself. Equally, important in this time of political questions, these children will be better citizens as well and be more informed and ready to make critical decisions so necessary in our political and social world.
In addition, as crime drops and taxes and livability rise, property values rise as well. Needless to say, if one owns property of any kind, one wants to get the most money a person can when selling it. Run down, crime ridden cities are not prime real estate. The Family Resource Center focuses on programs to improve family stability and effective parenting while creating the foundation for effective learning as well as self-regulation which I talked about last time. Ultimately, one of the goals would be reducing the opportunity gap for all ages while aligning learning supports for students AND families.
Our Family Resource Center, active at both elementary schools, is a starting point. At some point, we should hope to coordinate with all community agencies, including the school district, while reaching out for resources to support families and extended learning opportunities for students. Remember, it is through learning that we all can reach our potential. We need to grow and change for as long as we are alive with the world we inhabit. Morally, ethically, psychologically, judicially, AND economically, this is one way to improve the quality of life for all who share our world and our community.
Check out these short videos from Vroom Brain Games: https://youtu.be/trm38G2e5NE and https://youtu.be/PB1Uo9nbIVU are introductions. Then watch these to see examples of things you might do with your baby or toddler. https://youtu.be/Auns4tHyXes and https://youtu.be/iAj3wW1piTI and this one https://youtu.be/WwkLayJQHQ8 to feel good for all you already do for your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, foster child, adopted children and all kiddos – young and old- in your life and neighborhood.
I leave you with this quote from Rose Kennedy: “When you hold your baby in your arms the first time, and you think of all the things you can say and do to influence him, it’s a tremendous responsibility. What you do with him can influence not only him, but everyone he meets and not for a day or a month or a year but for time and eternity.” As always, keep writing to me at tmorton@fernridge.k12.or.us and see you in July!
School District Questions and Answers –
With board vice- chair- Twinkle Ann Morton
More things for Children 0-6
First of all, let me begin by reminding my readers that this column is my opinion and my opinion only. By that I mean that I am not speaking for the board merely making observations about educational topics and asking for your perspective and input. As I said previously, I am so pleased to see that we have secured several valued grants to help our youngest community members and their families. The Family Resource Grant will serve all parents with an emphasis on the early pre-kinder years. Many people are focusing on the importance of working with our children during this time, and the revelation of the effects of NOT doing that are striking and important to note.
In a Guest Viewpoint in the Register-Guard on 6/16/16 Sabrina Parsons, a board member and chair of the Oregon Community Foundation’s Southern Willamette Valley Leadership Council, and Max Williams, the foundation’s president and CEO, provides information expanding on the importance of early learning. Ms. Parsons says the “Brain architecture, which is 90 percent complete by age 6, is literally shaped by children’s earliest relationships and experiences. “ I thought the term ‘architecture’ is evocative as the physical structure is built early on and life experiences and classroom work create the interior design and furnishings.
So what can every parent do to help strengthen and build that ‘architecture’? Many minds are at work on this, and the most important player in your child’s [children’s] life is YOU. The question really is – How do I help my children reach beyond my potential? The good news is there is more and more help to do just that. Interested? I sure hope so. May I suggest you either go to this website http://www.joinvroom.org/ and click to add the application to your phone or computer that offers games and ideas for you to do with your child while you shop, while you watch TV, while you have dinner and while you go through the day. Or, if you are interested in more information before joining, check the newsletter out at… http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=986d65b7a9d80a53b6c948c40&id=fb6df18830&e=e5a4616a76
If you don’t have internet to check on either of these, hang on until next week. I will attempt to find another way for you to access these things. In this newsletter, you will find important ideas and fun facts such as “We at KinderCare know that little minds are wide open and ready to learn – we see this each day in our work with 170,000plus children and families. We also know that even more learning takes place outside the classroom. After all, parents are children’s very best teachers!”[From Vroom Spring newsletter] It might help you to make a decision to know that “Science is at the heart of Vroom! Our work is advised by an exceptional group of 13 leading researchers in child development and neuroscience and we continue to incorporate their findings in the tips and tools we share with you.
“One of those researchers is Laurie Brotman for New York University School of Medicine. Her work with ParentCorps is central to the ideas of Vroom. ParentCorps builds on the strengths of culturally-diverse families and helps schools engage parents as partners in helping children succeed. One of the things that is essential for all of us is something called self-regulation. I am sure that we all have our own ideas, and they are most likely correct, of what this would entail. But more specifically, as it relates to our children is using “the term self-regulation to talk about a range of strategies and behaviors that help children be ready to learn and engage in interactions while getting the most out of what’s going on in their environments.
Beginning at about the age three, it is a critical
time for the development of those skills. And what parents do in their interactions with children can really foster these skills.”
IT IS SO WORTH TRYING… our children always deserve more. They are our future leaders; Social equity is at work here. Help our children achieve more by creating On Ramps to the fast paced highway we call 21st Century life. Help them build that architecture so they can furnish their homes with beauty, peace and intellectual curiosity. This is far more than just a Social Equity issue – if that was not enough- but also an economic issue for all of us. Watch for next week’s article where I will hopefully bring you ways to access the newsletter for those of us without easy internet access and share a little of the effects on the economic front as well. As always feel free to contact me at tmorton@fernridge.k12.or.us. I leave you with a Chinese Proverb I’ve used before which seems perfect for this article. “Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time.” We all grow when our little ones do. Here is one of the many videos from Vroom honoring one of the important educators in your child’s life… the Mother done for Mother’s Day. I will include another one next time. Here’s the video… https://youtu.be/WwkLayJQHQ8 Until next time- have a great week.