One tip to close the student achievement gap is to believe that a solid education is the sharpest tool your child needs for a brilliant future. Many parents have already bought into the dream but are stuck at the level of transmuting it into reality. Another tip is to Fortify Your Child with Abundant Academic Support at Home: Poverty and single parent households have borne the brunt of criticism for the gap problem. In reality, a disproportionate number of children of middle income Blacks are not achieving at a rate comparable to that of Whites of similar economic status. So something is still lacking. One major component of that lacking entity can be tackled at the parental level. Parents, just be reassured that you are already equipped to academically support your children. At the elementary levels, why wait for teachers to teach your child the alphabet, numbers,or colors? Invent little counting games. Ask them questions such as, "How many red caps,or blue jackets do you see?" or "What letters can you read in that sign?" Have them practice writing their names. Children enjoy learning better when they have parents' attention and approval. Whether your household is headed by one or two parents should in no way deter you from carving out at least four hours a week for "Reading Time." As children get older, let them read to you, even through mispronunciations, and stumbling over unfamiliar words. Eventually, their confidence will soar by leaps and bounds. You may say, " I cannot possibly help my middle and high schoolers with their work." Well, it does not matter. Simply provide these blossoming minds with the environment conducive to learning. Turn off unnecessary noise. Limit telephone calls, etc. Minimize the number of distracting stimuli your children have to filter. Allow them to delve deep in thought, and immerse in a particular task. Make them feel important while doing homework by just being there... OK, so you are fixing dinner, you are doing the laundry, but they know you are there with them. You are giving them emotional support, and the gift of your presence. Do not blandly ask, "How was school today?" "Tell me, in your own words, about what you learned in Biology today..." And be truly interested. Listen carefully. Ask questions. When you allow children to explain... a mysteriously important process called meta-cognition occurs.As they teach you, they are simultaneously teaching themselves. Your availability to be taught offers them the opportunity to ask and answer important questions about areas that were not even clear to them up to that moment. But as they struggle to explain it, the answers are revealed to them. This is one way in which they really get it! Every day should be parent involvement day to recommit to doing your part in hermetically closing the achievement gap and keeping it closed. |
